Purchased  by  the  Hammill  Missionary  Fund. 


BV  3625  .C6  M9  1895 
Myers,  John  Brown,  1844  or 
45-1915. 

Congo  for  Christ,  the  story 

nf  the  nnTirrn  Migainn 


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THE  CONGO,  LOOKING  DOWN  RIVER  KROM  UNDERHILL  STATION.  [/.  Q2, 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST 


^torg  of  tljo  ®ongo  iHtsston 


BY  ^ 

JOHN  BROWN  MYERS 


(association  secretary  baptist  missionary  society) 

AUTHOR  OF  "THOMAS  J.  COMBER;”  “WILLIAM  CAREY,”  ETC. 


FLEMING  H.  REVELL  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  CHICAGO  TORONTO 


Publishers  of  Evangelical  Uteraiure. 


PREFACE. 


Numerous  inquiries  have  been  made  for  a 
concise  history  of  the  Congo  Mission,  brought 
up  to  date.  With  the  view  of  meeting  this 
demand  the  present  volume  has  been  written. 
The  late  esteemed  Treasurer  of  the  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Society,  Mr.  Joseph  Tritton,  published  “ The  Rise 
and  Progress  of  the  Congo  Mission ’'in  1885,  which 
publication  has  for  some  time  been  out  of  print,  and 
during  the  last  ten  years  the  Mission  has  greatly 
developed.  Considerable  information  is  also  to  be 
found  in  the  Memoir  of  Thomas  J.  Comber,  appearing 
in  this  Series,  but  that  work  is  necessarily  restricted 
by  its  biographical  character.  The  story  of  this 
remarkable  Mission  has  been  told  in  such  leisure 
moments  as  the  writer  could  command,  and  may 
therefore,  on  that  account,  as  also  on  account  of  the 
limited  space  at  disposal,  be  inadequately  told.  It  is, 
however,  confidently  believed  no  one  can  read  these 
pages  without  being  led  to  thank  God  for  the  great 


VI 


PREFACE. 


work  which  has  been  accomplished,  and  for  the  heroic, 
Christ-like  spirit  displayed  by  those  who  have  served, 
and  suffered,  and  died  in  the  prosecution  of  it. 

The  records  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society  have 
largely  contributed  to  the  matter,  as  also  its  woodcuts 
to  the  illustration  of  the  volume. 

It  now  only  remains  to  express  the  prayerful  hope 
that,  as  the  book  shall  find  its  way  into  Christian 
homes  and  Christian  Churches,  into  Sunday  Schools, 
Christian  Endeavour  Societies,  and  other  institu- 
tions, the  study  of  it  may  help  to  sustain  and 
deepen  the  interest  which  from  its  origin  has  been 
so  extensively  taken  in  this  Congo  Mission. 

J.  B.  M. 

May^  1895. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THli  COUNTRY,  PEOPLE,  LANGUAGE,  AND  CLIMATE,  . 9 

CHAPTER  II. 

HOW  THE  CONGO  MISSION  BEGAN,  . . . . 17 

CH.APTER  III. 

EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME, 24 

• ' CHAPTER  IV. 

INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS,  . . . .41 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  WORK  AMONGST  THE  CONGO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS,  . 51 

CHAPTER  VI. 

LITERARY  LABOURS, 62 

vii 


CONTENTS. 


Vlll 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PACE 

THE  SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION  AND 

PHILANTHROPY, 7 1 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES, 


. 88 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES— . . lOO 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  EVANGELISTIC  EFFORTS  OF  THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN 


CHURCHES, I 13 

CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  DEATH  ROLL  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT,  . . . I23 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  CONGO  MISSION,  . . . .139 

CHAPTEk  XIII. 

OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO, 1 47 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  COUNTRY,  PEOPLE,  LANGUAGE,  AND  CLIMATE. 

IT  was  in  the  January  of  1878  that  the  Pioneer 
Baptist  missionaries  first  landed  upon  the  shores 
of  the  Congo,  some  six  months  after  Mr.  Stanley’s 
emergence  from  the  mysterious  depths  of  the 
Dark  Continent.  The  knowledge  of  Congo  country, 
previous  to  the  wonderful  journey  across  Africa  of 
that  intrepid  traveller,  was  most  meagre.  During  the 
four  centuries  which  elapsed  since  Diego  Cam  dis- 
covered the  mouth  of  the  river,  little  of  interest 
had  transpired  save  the  entrance,  almost  immediately 
after  that  di.scovery,  of  some  Portuguese  Roman 
Catholic  missionaries  into  the  chief  town  of  Congo 
proper,  to  which  town  they  gave  the  name  of  San 
Salvador,  and  where  they  built  a cathedral  and 
received  the  king  and  the  inhabitants  generally  into 
a nominal  Christian  Church.  In  less  than  a hundred 
years,  however,  the  Portuguese  were  driven  from  the 

9 


lO 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


place,  who  then  transferred  their  ecclesiastical  influ- 
ence and  privileges  to  St.  Paul  de  Loanda  on  the 
coast  of  Angola. 

Mention  may  also  be  made  of  a British  expedition 
in  charge  of  Captain  Tuckey,  sent  out  by  the  Admir- 
alty at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  to  explore 
the  course  of  the  Congo.  But  the  results  were  slight, 
owing  to  the  fatality  with  which  the  expedition  was 
attended,  though  useful  information  concerning  the 
lower  reaches  of  the  river  was  obtained. 

The  only  other  preliminary  event  requiring  notice 
here,  is  the  expedition  sent  out  by  the  Royal  Geo- 
graphical Society,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Grandy,  organised  for  the  search  of  Dr.  Livingstone. 
Not  finding  it  expedient  to  follow  the  course  of  the 
Congo  from  its  mouth,  Lieutenant  Grandy  proceeded 
from  Ambriz,  reaching  San  Salvador  after  a month’s 
journey.  The  knowledge  of  the  interior  country 
which  he  was  enabled  to  communicate  to  the  Geo- 
graphical Society  was  very  valuable,  and  was  of  great 
service  to  the  missionary  pioneers.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that,  at  the  best,  the  knowledge  of  the  country 
obtainable  was  very  limited,  and  bearing  in  mind 
that  the  details  of  Stanley’s  journey  were  not  yet  in 
their  possession,  the  country  into  which  these  pioneers 
of  the  Cross  were  entering  may  be  truly  described  as 
“ Terra  Incognita.” 

But  while  Congo  country  was  at  that  time  an 
unknown  territory,  it  is  very  far  from  being  so  to-day. 
It  would  be  out  of  place,  in  this  volume,  to  detail  the 
various  steps  which  have  resulted  in  the  present 
development  of  the  Congo  I'ree  State,  the  founding 
of  which  took  place  in  1885.  A glance  at  the  map 
recently  published  in  Brussels,  showing  the  state,  the 
trading  and  the  mission  stations,  the  postal  offices, 
the  railway  projections,  as  well  as  the  various  districts 
into  which  the  vast  territory  of  the  Free  State  has 
been  sub-divided,  is  abundantly  sufficient  to  produce 
the  impression  that  a more  rapid  and  remarkable 


COUNTRY,  PEOPLE,  LANGUAGE,  AND  CLIMATE.  1 1 

instance  of  progress  in  civilisation  has  not  been 
witnessed  in  this  or  in  any  other  age. 

The  tract  of  country,  over  which  the  philanthropic 
and  noble-minded  King  of  the  Belgians,  Leopold  II., 
rules  as  sovereign,  and  which  by  the  consent  of  the 
Powers  is  on  the  point  of  being  transferred  to  Belgium, 
thus  virtually  becoming  a colony  of  that  nation,  in- 
cludes an  enormous  part  of  equatorial  Africa,  extending 
in  its  more  northerly  points  about  5°  N.  Lat.,  and  in  its 


southern  boundary  12°  S.  Lat.,  stretching  across  the 
continent  to  the  great  Eastern  Lakes,  30°  E.  Long. 
The  extent  of  area  thus  covered  is  no  less  than  nearly 
900,000  square  miles,  with  splendid  navigable  water- 
ways of  some  5000  miles  in  length,  the  population 
being  estimated  at  50,000,000,  an  estimate  which,  on 
further  explorations,  may  be  largely  exceeded. 

It  is  a great  satisfaction,  in  view  of  missionary 
operations,  that  in  the  delimitation  of  frontiers  the 


12 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


districts  of  Banana  and  of  Boma,  situated  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Lower  Congo,  should  have  been 
ceded  to  the  Free  State,  thereby  the  great  gateway 
into  the  interior  being  neither  under  the  control  of  the 
Portuguese  nor  of  the  French  Powers. 

It  is  appropriate  that  in  this  introductory  chapter 
a brief  reference  should  be  made  to  the  general 
questions  of  the  Religion,  Language,  and  Character 
of  the  Congo  people,  as  also  to  the  Climate  of  their 
country.  As  to  the  first  of  these  questions,  that  of 
Religion,  it  may  be  said  the  ideas  of  a God,  of  a future 
state,  and  of  retribution  exist  in  the  native  mind. 
“ But,”  as  has  been  graphically  remarked,  “ over  all  the 
religious  beliefs  of  the  Central  African  rests  a dense 
cloud  of  superstition.  He  trembles  before  the  witch- 
doctor. He  kills  his  own  wife  when  he  imagines  her 
bewitched.  He  kills  one  child  because  it  cuts  the 
upper  teeth  before  the  lower.  He  kills  another  child 
when  it  turns  from  one  side  to  the  other  in  sleep. 
The  ghost-like  medicine-man,  the  universal  demi-god 
of  savage  nations,  with  his  hideous  miscellany  of  dead 
lizards,  hide,  nails  of  the  dead,  lions’  claws  and 
vulture-beaks,  stalks  through  the  village  imparting 
strange  efficacy  to  claw  or  bone,  stick  or  stone.  And 
as  beneath  the  dull,  leaden  skies  of  the  distant  north 
there  are  believed  to  be  structures  haunted  by  ghosts 
and  goblins,  so  here  the  forest,  with  its  tenantry  of 
owls  and  bats,  is  the  abode  of  malignant  spirits, 
and  the  rustling  of  the  foliage  at  eventide  is  their 
mysterious  dialogue.  Shadowy  vagueness  and  super- 
stitious terror  are  the  cardinal  elements  of  Central 
African  religion.” 

With  respect  to  Language,  it  cannot  but  be  of  great 
advantage  in  the  evangelisation  of  the  Congo,  that  as 
the  people, — with  the  possible  exception  of  the  dwarfs, 
the  singular  beings  with  whom  Mr.  Stanley  has  made 
us  familiar, — are  of  the  same  origin,  belonging  to  the 
great  Bantu  family,  the  language  spoken,  though  vary- 
ing much  in  dialect,  and  practically  distinct  in  several  of 


13 


H 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


its  tongues,  is  yet  throughout  Central  Africa  governed 
by  the  same  grammatical  principles  and  rules.  “ In 
a general  and  wide  study  of  the  Bantu,  or  of  any 
other  family  of  tongues,”  says  the  Rev.  W.  Holman 
Bentley,  who  has  devoted  himself  more  especially 
to  the  study  of  language,  “ we  may  expect  to  find 
certain  individualities,  forms,  and  tendencies,  much 
more  developed  in  some  languages  than  in  others  ; 
some  forms  most  rare  and  obscure  in  one  member  of 
the  family  occurring  frequently  in  another,  in  which 
also  the  construction  appears  most  simple.  Thus, 
each  language  reduced,  should  not  only  aid  us  towards 
a fuller  knowledge  of  the  general  principles  of  its 
class,  but,  should  elucidate  some  of  the  difficulties 
belonging  to  other  branches  of  its  family.”  “ The 
Congo  language,”  says  Dr.  Cust,  a high  authority  on 
the  modern  languages  of  Africa,  “ takes  its  place  by 
the  side  of  the  Swahili,  the  Zulu,  and  the  Pongwe,  as 
one  of  the  typical  languages  of  the  Bantu  family. 
Differing  from  each  other  in  many  particulars,  they 
still  have  such  ineffaceable  affinities  as  indicate  their 
common  stock.  The  mechanism  of  one  often  explains 
misunderstood  anomalies  in  the  others.” 

In  Character,  some  of  the  tribes  are  less  cruel  and 
more  open  to  influence  than  others.  Whilst  occasion- 
ally, the  missionaries  have  been  received  with  hostility, 
and  in  some  towns  have  found  it  unsafe  to  dwell, 
generally  speaking,  their  visits  have  been  cordially 
welcomed,  and  their  message  listened  to  with  respect- 
ful wonder.  In  mental  capacity,  the  natives  are  said 
to  be  bright  and  quick,  and  by  no  means  the  stupid 
and  stolid  creatures  they  are  sometimes  represented. 
High  hopes  are  entertained  that,  as  Christianity  and 
civilisation  advance,  the  Congo  people  will  take  rank 
with  the  foremost  nations  of  the  earth. 

A final  word  as  to  the  Climate  of  the  country. 
Hereafter  we  shall  have  occasion  to  touch  upon  the 
sad  losses,  which  have  so  sorely  tried  the  hearts  of 
the  supporters  of  African  Missions,  and  of  those  of 


BOMA,  CONGO  RIVER. 


i6 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


, this  Congo  Mission  in  particular.  Optimists  cannot 
commend  the  climate  as  being  without  risk  to  health. 
No  one  in  his  senses  will  go  forth  to  a tropical 
country,  where  malarial  fever^  is  frequent,  denying 
that  he  incurs  peril ; but  the  reputation  of  the  Congo 
climate  has  unquestionably  had  to  suffer  through 
consequences  resulting  from  ignorance  and  lack  of 
prudence.  With  increasing  knowledge  is  coming 
greater  medical  skill,  and  given  certain  conditions — 
conditions  deemed  more  and  more  possible,  and  the 
prospects  of  continuous  and  prosperous  work  will 
grow  brighter. 

This,  then,  is  the  nature  of  the  country  in  which, 
and  the  kind  of  people  among  whom,  the  Christian 
Mission  is  being  conducted,  whose  remarkable  pro- 
gress and  beneficent  labours  are  about  to  be  traced 
in  subsequent  chapters. 


f CHAPTER  II. 

HOW  THE  CONGO  MISSION  BEGAN. 

T TERY  evident  to  a devout  mind  is  the  working 
\ / of  a Divine  Providence  in  the  circumstances 
f V which  led  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society  to 
S enter  upon  missionary  labours  in  Congo  land. 

I In  the  origin  of  no  similar  enterprise  were  the  con- 
B currence  of  events  and  conditions  more  remarkable, 
f;  The  labours  of  other  Societies  whose  representatives 

thad  entered  from  the  East  Coast — those  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland  Mission  on  Lake  Nyassa,  the 
Church  Missionary  Society’s  Mission  in  Uganda,  and 
^ the  expedition  sent  out  by  the  London  Missionary 
? Society  to  Lake  Tanganyika — had  awakened  the 

* interest  of  the  Christian  Church  generally  in  the 

' evangelisation  of  Africa. 

For  a long  time  the  conviction  had  been  strengthen- 
ing in  the  minds  of  the  supporters  of  the  Baptist 
Society,  as  the  result  of  experience  gained  at  coast 
. , stations,  that  their  true  policy,  wherever  practicable, 
was  to  penetrate  into  the  interior,  where  the  Gospel 
might  be  preached  unhindered  by  the  hostile  influ- 
ence of  demoralising  traders.  The  opinion  strongly 
^ expressed  by  many,  pre-eminently  by  Dr,  Livingstone, 


i8 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


who  was  continuously  calling  upon  missionaries  “ to 
leave  the  unhealthy,  fever-stricken,  trade-cursed  tribes 
on  the  coast,"  created  a readiness  to  embrace  any 
favourable  opportunity  for  work  in  inland  regions. 
In  pursuance  of  this  desire,  special  journeys  at  this 
very  time  were  being  made  from  the  Cameroon 
stations,  to  ascertain  if  it  were  possible  to  enter  the 
interior  from  that  part  of  Western  Africa. 

It  was  just  at  this  particular  moment — date  the  14th 
of  May,  1877 — when  the  Committee  at  home  were 
desirous  to  start  operations  in  central  regions,  and 
when  missionaries  abroad  were  exploring  with  a view 
to  that  end,  that  Mr.  Robert  Arthington,  of  Leeds, 
whose  interest  in  the  degraded  peoples  of  Africa  is 
well  known,  and  whose  gifts  to  promote  their  moral 
and  spiritual  welfare  have  been  most  generous, 
communicated  with  the  Committee  of  the  Society, 
calling  their  attention  to  a part  of  Africa,  “ not  too 
far,  I think,"  to  quote  his  own  words,  “ from  places 
where  you  have  stations,  on  which  I have  long  had 
my  eye  with  very  strong  desire  that  the  blessings  of 
the  Gospel  might  be  given  to  it.  It  is  the  country  of 
the  Congo."  And  then  after  referring  to  the  Romish 
Missions  of  three  hundred  years  ago,  the  traces  of 
which  may  be  seen  in  the  Cathedral  ruins  at  San 
Salvador,  and  giving  certain  information  respecting 
the  country  thus  mentioned,  he  concluded  his  letter  in 
the  following  terms  : — 

“ It  is,  therefore,  a great  satisfaction  and  a high  and 
sacred  pleasure  to  me  to  offer  ;^iooo  if  the  Baptist 
Missionary  Society  will  undertake  at  once  to  visit 
these  benighted,  interesting  people  with  the  blessed 
light  of  the  Gospel,  teach  them  to  read  and  write,  and 
give  them  in  imperishable  letters  the  words  of  eternal 
truth.  By-and-by,  possibly,  we  may  be  able  to  extend 
the  mission  eastwards  on  the  Congo  at  a point  above 
the  rapids. 

“ But,  however,  that  may  be,  I hope  that  soon  we 
shall  have  a steamer  on  the  Congo,  if  it  should 


THE  CATHEDRAL  RUINS,  SAN  SALVADOR. 


19 


20 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


be  found  requisite,  and  carry  the  Gospel  eastwards 
and  south  and  north  of  the  river,  as  the  way  may 
open  as  far  as  Nyangwe.  The  London  Mission- 
ary Society  take  twenty  miles  west  of  Lake  Tangan- 
yika.” 

The  receipt  of  this  communication  at  so  opportune 
a moment  awakened  the  liveliest  interest.  Was  not 
a voice  from  heaven  speaking?  Was  not  the  hand  of 
God  discernible  in  such  an  incident? 

On  Mr.  Arlington’s  letter  being  laid  before  the 
Directors  of  the  Society,  a special  sub-committee  was 
at  once  appointed  to  make  all  necessary  inquiries 
and  gain  all  possible  information.  The  practical  out- 
come of  their  deliberations  was  to  suggest  a prelimin- 
ary exploration  of  the  Congo.  On  Mr.  Arthington 
being  informed  of  this  proposal,  that  gentleman  wrote 
a second  letter  as  under : — 

“ It  is  to  the  King  of  Congo,  and  the  existing  com- 
munities of  the  ancient  Christian  Romish  civilisation 
now  decayed,  at  San  Salvador,  of  the  country  called 
Congo,  that  I have  so  long,  and  so  strongly  desired 
to  send,  in  all  its  life-giving  freshness,  the  Word  of 
God,  and  to  give  them  in  their  own  tongue,  tiever  to 
be  forgotten,  the  words  of  Jesus  and  His  Apostles. 

“ Then,  besides  that,  I want  us  to  be  on  the  Congo 
River  by-and-by  (when  we  get  the  intelligent  interest 
and  co-operation  of  the  King  of  Congo)  above  the 
rapids,  and  sail  the  messengers  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel  on  the  mighty  river  up  as  far  as  to  Nyangwe. 

“Does  not  God  call  us  by  His  providential  indica- 
tions to  attempt  great  things  for  His  Christ,  and  the 
Gospel. 

“ God  is  over  all,  and  we  may  depend  upon  it  He 
intends  now  to  open  out  Africa  to  Christian  evan- 
gelisation. Think  of  the  thousands  of  souls  come 
across  by  Cameron  west  of  Tanganyika.  Are  these 
to  live  and  die  without  the  knowledge  of  the  all- 
precious Gospel?  Nay,  hardly  so.  In  my  opinion, 
it  would  be  wise,  without  delay,  to  send  a man,  most 


HOW  THE  CONGO  MISSION  BEGAN. 


21 


prayerfully  chosen,  full  of  faith  and  love,  who  will 
determinately  make  his  way  to  the  King  of  Congo, 
and  ask  him  if  he  would  receive  and  encourage  your 
Christian  missionaries ; and,  at  the  same  time,  he 
should  make  all  needful  inquiries. 

“ If  you  find  the  man  and  inform  me,  I intend  at 
once  to  send  you  to  encourage  you.” 

When  the  July  quarterly  meeting  arrived,  the 
special  sub- committee  were  prepared  with  their 
report,  which  was  unanimously  and  enthusiastically 
adopted,  its  recommendation  being  most  gratefully  to 
accept  Mr.  Arthington’s  proposals,  and  assure  him  of 
the  deep  and  hearty  sympathy  of  the  Committee  in 
his  desire  to  send  the  Gospel  into  the  interior  of 
Africa  by  way  of  the  West  Coast ; to  appeal  to  the 
friends  of  Africa  on  behalf  of  the  expenses  of  a 
proposed  preliminary  visit  to  San  Salvador ; and  to 
appeal  for  one  or  more  suitable  pioneers  to  undertake 
the  projected  journey. 

The  public  announcement  of  this  decision  called 
forth  the  fervent  approval  of  the  Churches,  and 
promises  of  support  were  speedily  forthcoming. 

We  have  referred  to  indications  of  Divine  leading, 
and  in  this  connection  we  have  now  to  mention  a 
significant  concurrence  of  events,  surely  to  be  regarded 
as  something  more  than  a mere  coincidence.  In  the 
appeal  made  by  the  Committee  for  the  funds  needful 
to  enter  upon  the  preliminary  undertaking,  they  made 
use  of  the  following  language : — “ Who  can  say  but 
that  it  may  lead  to  the  proclamation  of  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  Gospel  all  along  the  banks  of  the 
mighty  Congo  ? That,  with  San  Salvador  as  a base, 
the  missionaries  may  be  able  to  follow  that  mysterious 
river  from  above  the  Falls,  as  far  as  Nyangw6,  and 
thus  solve  the  great  and  perplexing  question  as  to  the 
Lualaba  being  identical  with  the  Congo  ? 

“ The  gallant  Cameron  says  : — ‘ This  great  Lualaba 
must  be  one  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Congo,  for 
where  else  could  that  giant  among  rivers,  second  only 


22 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


to  the  Amazon  in  its  volume,  obtain  the  two  million 
cubic  feet  of  water  which  it  unceasingly  pours  each 
second  into  the  Atlantic.’ 

“ Probably  this  question  will  soon  be  set  at  rest  by 
the  intrepid  Stanley,  who  is  now  engaged  in  trying  to 
find  his  way  from  Nyangwd  to  the  West  Coast,  by  the 
banks  of  the  Congo,  from  the  very  point  where 
Commander  Cameron  was  most  reluctantly  compelled 
to  turn  southwards,  and  abandon  his  long-cherished 
idea  of  reaching  the  West  Coast  by  the  waters  of  the 
Congo.” 

At  the  very  time  the  article  containing  this  appeal 
was  being  prepared  for  the  press  by  Mr.  A.  H. 
Baynes,  the  General  Secretary  of  the  Society,  to 
whose  skilfulness  and  enthusiasm,  both  as  to  its 
inception  and  management,  the  Congo  Mission  owes 
so  much,  Mr.  Stanley’s  famous  despatch,  dated 
Embomma,  Congo  River,  loth  August,  1877, 
announcing  the  successful  accomplishment  of  his 
marvellous  journey,  and  publishing  his  most  import- 
ant discovery  of  the  identity  of  the  Lualaba  and  the 
Congo  rivers,  was  on  its  way  to  England. 

By  this  great  discovery  the  purposes  of  the  Com- 
mittee were  naturally  much  strengthened ; and, 
further,  their  way  was  made  still  more  clear  by  the 
receipt  of  a donation  from  Mr.  Wathen  (afterward 
Sir  Charles  Wathen)  of  ;£^500  to  meet  the  estimated 
cost  of  the  proposed  preliminary  expedition.  Other 
gifts  followed  ; and,  as  showing  the  spirit  of  intense 
interest  which  had  been  aroused,  we  may  quote  a 
typical  letter  received  from  a Staffordshire  collier ; — 

“ To  the  Secretaries  of  the  Baptist  Mission. 

“25/^  Septetnber,  1877. 

“ Dear  Sirs,  — Ever  since  my  conversion,  now 
some  few  years  ago,  I have  taken  a deep  interest  in 
mission  work,  especially  mission  work  in  Africa. 
I always  carry  a map  of  Africa  in  my  pocket,  and 


HOW  THE  CONGO  MISSION  BEGAN.  23 

often  look  over  it  in  my  spare  time  in  the  pit.  For  a 
long  time  I have  been  thinking  of  the  great  Congo 
River,  and  praying  that  missionaries  may  be  sent 
there,  and  I now  see  in  the  Missionary  Herald  for 
this  month  that  the  answer  is  coming,  and  the  Lord 
has  put  it  into  Mr.  Arthington’s  mind. 

“Times  have  not  been  very  gay  with  us  of  late, 
but  I have  put  by  from  time  to  time  a little  for 
Africa,  and  now  with  a glad  heart  I send  you  a five 
pound  bank-note  for  the  Congo  Mission,  with  a 
prayer  that  the  Lord  may  bless  it,  and  I remain 
yours  in  Christ, 

“A  Staffordshire  Collier. 

“ P.S. — I have  just  heard  about  Mr.  Stanley  and 
his  wonderful  journey.  How  the  Lord  seems  to  be 
opening  up  Africa.  Can’t  we  all  do  something  more 
for  Africa  ? ” 

Careful  deliberations  as  to  the  persons  to  whom 
this  important  expedition  should  be  intrusted  forced 
upon  the  judgment  of  the  Directors  the  desirability  of 
seeking  the  assistance  of  those  who  possessed  some 
experience  of  African  life,  and  who  were  men  of 
proved  capacity.  The  choice  fell  upon  the  Revs. 
George  Grenfell  and  Thomas  J.  Comber,  two 
missionaries  then  stationed  at  Cameroons,  and  whose 
recent  journeyings  into  the  interior  from  that  part  of 
the  West  Coast  had  helped  to  fit  them  to  undertake 
the  new  enterprise.  No  sooner  did  the  communica- 
tion reach  these  brethren,  inviting  them  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  render  this  service,  than  they 
both  placed  themselves,  in  the  spirit  of  heroic  devo- 
tion and  in  humble  dependence  upon  Divine  help, 
unreservedly  at  the  disposal  of  the  Society. 

Such,  then;  were  the  circumstances  in  which  the 
Congo  Mission  was  originated. 


CHAPTER  III. 

EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME. 

IT  was  not  without  an  adequate  sense  of  the  for- 
midable character  of  this  Congo  undertaking 
that  the  initiative  steps  were  taken.  The  diffi- 
culties certain  to  be  encountered  were  not 
under-estimated.  It  was  deeply  felt  that  much 
patience  and  prudence,  courage  and  endurance,  would 
be  required. 

As  indicating  the  fitness  of  the  men  to  whom  the 
enterprise  had  been  intrusted,  no  sooner  had  they 
intimated  their  readiness  to  serve,  than  they  deter- 
mined, whilst  waiting  for  the  detailed  instructions 
from  England,  to  take  the  first  opportunity  to  sail 
down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Congo  River,  so  that  on 
the  spot  they  might  gain  all  the  information  obtain- 
able, and  thus  be  the  better  prepared  to  make  the 
necessary  preliminary  preparations.  The  advantages 
secured  were  great.  They  gained  a practical  know- 
ledge of  the  river  for  some  sixty  miles  into  the 
interior  ; they  ascertained  to  what  extent  they  might 
be  able  to  rely  upon  native  carriers ; they  entered 
into  cordial  relations  with  Mr.  Bloeme  of  the  Dutch 
Trading  House,  who  promised  them  all  the  assistance 
24 


Till:  PRINCIPAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONGO  MISSIONARY  EXPEDITION 
{Frotn  a photo  by  Mr,  T,J.  Comber.') 


25 


26 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


in  his  power ; and  they  were  able  to  despatch  a letter 
to  the  King  of  Congo  advising  his  Majesty  of  their 
intended  visit. 

After  returning  to  Cameroons  the  Home  instruc-  . 
tions  arrived.  And  then,  as  soon  as  the  preparations 
could  be  completed  and  the  small  party  got  together, 
they  embarked  again  for  the  Congo,  their  spirit  being 
expressed  in  the  following  terms  : — “ Earnestly,  most 
earnestly  do  we  pray  that  the  gracious  Lord,  our 
Master  and  Guide,  may  give  us  favour  in  the  eyes  of 
the  people,  open  up  a way  for  us,  go  before  us,  be 
round  about  us  and  ever  with  us ; we  indeed  are 
weak,  as  but  children,  but  He  can  so  order  and  over- 
rule, as  to  enable  us  to  unfurl  the  Banner  of  the  Cross 
at  San  Salvador,  that  with  that  for  a base,  from  it, 
may  enable  us  or  others  to  pierce  the  interior,  and 
carry  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  through  His  blood 
all  along  the  densely  populated  bank  of  the  mighty 
Congo  and  its  great  tributaries.” 

After  eight  days’  sail  Banana  was  reached,  and  in 
fourteen  days  more  the  expedition,  increased  to 
thirty-five  persons  all  told,  was  on  its  way  to  San 
Salvador.  The  journey  was  uneventful ; the  route  lay 
over  rough  roads,  hills  some  seven  hundred  feet  high, 
and  through  valleys  where  the  paths  were  nearly 
blocked  by  tall  thick  grass,  in  some  places  as 
much  as  twelve  feet  in  height.  In  eight  days  their 
destination  was  reached,  and  they  were  immediately 
ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  king.  The  first 
impressions  of  San  Salvador  were  far  from  favourable. 
They  were  disappointed  in  the  size  of  the  town,  as 
it  did  not  contain  more  than  about  one  thousand 
inhabitants.  They  found,  too,  that  the  Portuguese 
Jesuits,  having  heard  of  their  intentions,  had  preceded 
them,  and  had  arranged  regular  services,  and  in  other 
ways  had  asserted  their  influence.  They  came, 
therefore,  to  the  decision  to  settle,  if  possible,  in 
preference,  at  Makouta  or  Kinsuka,  of  which  places 
they  had  gained  encouraging  information.  After 


EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME, 


27 


remaining,  however,  for  a short  time  at  San  Salvador, 
and  having  visited  the  district  of  Makouta,  they 
eventually  came  to  the  conclusion — especially  as  Dom 
Pedro,  the  king,  expressed  a very  earnest  wish  that 
they  should  live  in  his  town,  at  the  same  time  assur- 
ing them  of  his  protection — that  it  would  be  better 
to  found  a station,  as  originally  intended,  at  San 
Salvador. 

The  purposes  of  the  preliminary  expedition  being 
now  fulfilled,  it  was  deemed  desirable  for  Mr.  Comber 
to  visit  England,  so  that  he  might  confer  with  the 
Committee  of  the  Society  as  to  future  proceedings, 
and  especially  to  procure  reinforcements,  Mr.  Grenfell 
returning  to  Cameroons. 

The  enthusiasm  which  Mr.  Comber’s  home-coming 
awakened,  the  success  with  which  the  appeal  for  new 
missionaries  was  attended,  his  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie 
Rickards,  the  ever-memorable  meeting  in  Cannon 
Street  Hotel — all  these  deeply  interesting  particulars 
are  described  at  length  in  Mr.  Comber’s  Memoir,  that 
book  being  one  of  the  volumes  of  this  Missionary  Series. 

After  a six  weeks’  voyage,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1879, 
the  missionaries — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Comber  and  the  three 
new  men,  Messrs.  Bentley,  Crudgington,  and  Hartland 
— arrived  at  Banana,  and  thence  proceeded  without 
delay  to  San  Salvador.  At  the  calling  station  previ- 
ous to  Banana  they  had  heard  with  intense  interest 
the  most  important  news  “ that  Mr.  Stanley  was 
expected  soon  from  Zanzibar,  where  he  had  gone  to 
procure  carriers  ; and  that  he  was  intending  to  enter 
Africa  from  the  mouth  of  the  Congo,  going  first  to 
Stanley  Pool,  with  the  object  of  establishing  trading 
stations  along  the  bank  of  the  river.” 

Though  this  important  information  did  not  lead  to 
any  alteration  in  their  plan  to  attempt  to  reach  the 
Upper  Congo  River  from  San  Salvador  as  a base  of 
operations,  the  missionaries  nevertheless  felt  that  Mr. 
Stanley’s  movements  might  have  a very  significant 
bearing  upon  their  future  action. 


28 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


It  is  not  proposed  in  these  pages  to  detail  the 
labours  and  experience  of  the  Congo  pioneers  during 
the  period  they  endeavoured  to  force  their  way  to 
Stanley  Pool  from  San  Salvador ; neither  do  we 
dwell  here  upon  the  first  great  trial  which  came  upon 
the  mission  in  the  lamented  death  of  Mrs.  Comber. 
For  these  particulars  we  must  refer  our  readers  to  Mr. 
Comber’s  biography,  already  mentioned.  We  cannot 
do  better  than  sum  up  the  results  of  this  period  in  the 
words  of  Mr.  Bentley  : “ Our  work  at  San  Salvador 
made  good  progress  ; but  our  aim  was  the  evangelisa- 
tion of  the  Upper  Congo,  and  this  had  to  be  kept  in 
view.  Beyond  the  king’s  territory  we  were  blocked 
by  native  traders.  When  we  endeavoured  to  make 
our  way  from  San  Salvador  towards  Stanley  Pool, 
they  steadily  and  persistently  refused  to  allow  us  to 
pass,  in  spite  of  all  we  told  them  of  our  errand.  ‘ No,’ 
they  said,  ‘ you  white  men  stay  on  the  coast  ; we  will 
bring  the  produce  to  you  there  ; but  if  you  go  to  the 
Pool  you  will  know  our  markets,  and  buy  where  we 
buy ; our  trade  will  be  lost  ; then  how  shall  we  obtain 
our  guns  and  powder,  beads  and  brass,  crockery-ware 
and  knives,  cloth,  and  all  the  fine  things  we  get  now  ? 
No,  we  will  never  let  you  pass  our  towns  ; and  if  you 
persist,  you  will  be  killed.’  They  could  not  conceive 
of  people  who  were  not  traders.  Thirteen  attempts 
were  made,  first  on  one  road  and  then  on  another, 
until  Mr.  Comber  was  attacked  and  shot.  He  was 
able  to  escape,  and  the  slug  was  extracted.  Then 
followed  long  palavering,  and  at  last  the  road  was 
declared  open.  Meanwhile,  we  learned  that  Mr. 
Stanley  had  returned  to  the  Congo,  and  was  engaged 
in  making  a road  from  Vivi,  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Congo,  the  point  where  the  river  ceased  to  be  navig- 
able. He  was  said  to  be  acting  for  the  King  of  the 
Belgians,  and  to  have  instructions  to  open  up  com- 
munications between  the  coast  and  Stanley  Pool. 
This  was  good  news  indeed.” 

It  was  then  resolved  that  an  effort  should  be  made 


THE  YELLALA  CATARACTS,  CONGO  RIVER.  [/.  30. 


30 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


to  reach  Stanley  Pool  along  either  bank  of  the  river, 
Mr.  Comber  and  Mr.  Hartland  taking  the  south  and 
Mr.  Bentley  and  Mr.  Crudgington  the  north  bank. 
The  attempt  of  the  former  party  was  soon  found  to  be 
impracticable,  and  had  to  be  abandoned  ; but  that  of 
the  latter  was  ultimately  crowned  with  success.  As 
this  very  remarkable  journey,  from  obvious  reasons,  is 
barely  mentioned  in  the  memoir  of  Mr.  Comber,  it  is 
appropriate  that  some  detailed  reference  should  find  a 
place  in  this  volume. 

Starting  from  Musuka  on  the  17th  of  January,  1881, 
Messrs.  Bentley  and  Crudgington  kept  the  south  bank 
until  Matadi  was  reached,  from  which  place  they 
crossed  over  the  river  to  Vivi  on  the  opposite  shore. 
For  the  next  five  days,  as  far  as  Isangila,  they  were 
able  to  avail  themselves  of  Mr.  Stanley’s  road.  At 
some  points  they  were  charmed  by  the  impressive 
scenery  ; particularly  was  this  the  case  just  above  the 
Yellala  Falls.  “On  our  right  roared  the  Falls,  tumbling 
and  foaming  madly  over  huge  rocks  in  the  bed  of  the 
river.  On  our  left  rose  a very  high  mountain  of 
rocks  almost  perpendicularly  from  the  water,  and  we 
were  amazed  at  the  wonderful  piece  of  engineering 
which  Mr.  Stanley  has  accomplished.  To  get  round 
this  mountain  he  had  to  blast  and  throw  over  huge 
masses  of  rock,  to  build  up  a strong  road  which  the 
river  should  not  wash  away  even  when  it  rose  to  its 
highest,  which  was  within  a foot  of  the  level  of  the 
road.  At  low  water — i.e.,  in  the  dry  season — this  road 
or  embankment  is  about  ten  feet  above  the  river.  In 
front  of  us  lay  a fine  undulating  road  through  this 
wood  which  runs  down  to  the  edge  of  the  river. 
Beautifully  shaded  from  the  hot  scorching  sun,  it  was 
a most  inviting  spot  to  camp  for  the  remainder  of  the 
day.  The  air  seemed  alive  with  butterflies  of  every 
conceivable  colour  and  tint.  Birds  of  every  descrip- 
tion fluttered  from  branch  to  branch,  while  the  small 
monkeys  laughed  defiance  from  the  tops  of  the  trees. 
We  did  not  hurry  our  boys  along  this  part  of  our 


EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME. 


31 


journey.  Indeed  we  said  we  would  like  to  spend  a 
week  here  exploring  the  beauties  of  the  place,  and 
finding  fresh  bursts  of  lovely  scenery  ; but  we  were 
bound  for  Stanley  Pool,  so  could  only  take  a passing 
enjoyment.” 

On  leaving  Isangila  the  missionaries  entered  an 
unknown  country,  with  their  compass  as  their  guide, 
and  dependent  upon  the  information  they  might  pick 
up  as  they  passed  along.  In  some  parts  they  had  to 
pull  themselves  up  steep  ascents  by  tufts  of  grass  and 
roots  of  trees.  So  difficult  was  the  way  that  their 
headsmen  refused  to  proceed  farther,  and,  moreover, 
declared  the  people  ahead  to  be  bad  people,  with  bad 
customs.  The  next  day  the  same  difficulty  again 
occurred,  the  guides  who  had  been  obtained  at  the 
town  where  they  had  spent  the  previous  night,  declin- 
ing to  go  beyond  a certain  point  because  they  were 
not  acquainted  with  the  people  in  front.  After  remon- 
strating, it  soon  became  evident  that  the  men  were 
conducting  them  in  a wrong  direction,  “ At  length,” 
says  Mr.  Crudgington,  “ we  declared  we  would  go  no 
farther  with  them.  They  began  palavering,  and — we 
were  in  the  midst  of  a lot  of  towns — the  men  collected 
with  their  guns,  and  we  feared  mischief.”  Having  left 
their  guides,  they  struck  off  in  an  almost  opposite 
direction,  but  only  to  lose  the  path  in  a marshy  river. 
Cutting,  however,  their  way  through  the  tall  grass, 
they  entered  upon  another  path,  which  brought  them 
to  a small  town,  the  people  in  which  soon  showed 
them  a friendly  spirit. 

We  may  here  refer  to  the  difficulty  these  pioneer 
missionaries  were  continually  encountering  through 
the  necessity  of  crossing  the  streams  which  so  often 
impeded  their  progress.  In  some  instances,  these 
rivers  were  without  bridges,  and  so  had  to  be  waded 
or  swam  across,  the  men  getting  their  loads  over  as 
best  they  could  ; and  where  the  streams  had  been 
bridged  over,  it  was  only  with  creepers  swung  from 
trees  on  either  side.  “ Sometimes,”  they  said,  “ the 


32 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


bridge  would  be  so  badly  made,  and  swayed  so 
dangerously,  that  when  our  men  began  to  cross  with 
their  loads  we  had  to  steady  it  by  means  of  other 


A SUSPENSION  HRinCE, 


long  creepers  tied  on  each  side  of  the  bridge,  and  at 
times  they  would  be  so  high  above  the  river  that 
when  we  had  crossed  we  had  to  scramble  down  a 
palm  tree  like  bears  down  a bear-pole.” 


EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME. 


33 


The  accommodation  available  for  the  travellers 
was  frequently  of  the  most  uninviting  character,  so 
undesirable  that  sometimes  they  had  to  sleep  in  the 
open,  whilst  drumming  and  dancing  and  yelling 
would  be  kept  up  till  dawn.  On  arriving  at  a place 
called  Kibindika  they  described  the  women  as  being 
the  ugliest  without  exception  they  had  ever  seen — 
round  flat  faces,  with  noses  of  very  broad  proportions, 
and  large  thick  lips.  This  ugliness,  they  remarked,  is 
increased  by  putting  on  a mixture,  which  might,  by  its 
appearance,  be  soot  and  treacle.  The  hair  is  carefully 
preserved  until  it  is  of  sufficient  length  to  allow  of  its 
being  clothed  up  with  a similar  mixture,  giving  the 
head  a mop-like  appearance.  Over  all  this  preparation 
of  hair  and  face  an  oily  mixture  is  poured.  The  ears, 
of  course,  are  pierced,  and,  failing  rings  or  beads,  a 
bundle  of  rags,  three  or  four  inches  long,  sometimes 
containing  medicine,  helps  to  finish  the  adornment 
of  the  person. 

After  having  been  rather  more  than  three  weeks  on 
their  march,  on  the  loth  of  February,  an  event  of 
great  interest  occurred,  being  nothing  less  than  the 
sighting  of  Stanley  Pool,  the  travellers’  then  “ Ultima 
Thule.”  They  had  heard  from  the  natives  that  the 
pool  was  not  far  distant,  and  they  were  naturally  full 
of  excitement.  “ Our  anxiety,”  they  say  in  their 
diary,  “ was  now  greater  than  it  had  ever  been  lest 
at  the  last  hour  we  should  get  turned  back  and  not 
accomplish  what  we  wanted.”  After  rising  early  the 
next  morning,  they  passed  through  fine  woodland 
country,  with  many  sandy  streams  and  some  beauti- 
ful open  spaces  covered  with  short  grass.  At  one  of 
these  open  spaces  on  a little  hill,  Mr.  Crudgington 
sighted  a wide  stretch  of  water  on  the  horizon,  which 
appeared  a long  streak  of  cloud.  He  exclaimed  to 
Mr.  Bentley,  “ Look,  there ’s  Stanley  Pool  ! ” They 
thought  they  must  be  mistaken,  but  another  view  a 
little  farther  on  made  it  unmistakable.  They  then  felt 
they  could  walk  any  distance  to  reach  the  Pool  that  day. 

c 


34 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Not  that,  but  the  next  day,  however,  to  their  inex- 
pressible joy,  found  them  on  its  shores.  The  physical 
characteristics  of  the  Pool  in  many  respects  surpassed 
their  anticipations.  The  White  Dover  Cliffs,  the  grass 
covered  and  tree-clad  hill,  the  numerous  sand  islands, 
composed  a lovely  picture.  The  Pool  itself  they 
found  to  be  in  size  about  twenty-four  miles  long,  and 
in  some  parts  the  same  distance  broad. 

Here  the  missionaries  made  the  acquaintance  of 
the  great  chief,  Nga  Liema  of  Ntamo.  After  a long 
palaver  they  were  admitted  into  his  town,  but  their 
position  was  by  no  means  without  peril,  as  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  their  journal  will  show  ; — “We  were 
conducted  into  an  enclosure  and  shown  a house.  The 
people,  many  of  whom  were  hideously  painted  about 
the  face  and  body,  were  hanging  about  us  with  their 
formidable  looking  spears  and  knives.  Some  other 
chiefs,  of  not  a very  prepossessing  appearance,  ex- 
amined the  exterior  of  our  baggage.  In  the  evening 
our  capata  expressed  great  fear.  The  chiefs  had 
been  talking  to  him  about  our  cloth,  and  had  ex- 
pressed a liking  for  ears  and  tongues.  This  a chief 
repeated  in  my  hearing,”  says  Mr.  Crudgington, 
“and  his  manner  of  expressing  himself  conveyed 
very  graphically  his  kind  intentions.  They  also 
said,  ‘ Kroo  boys  had  plenty  of  salt  in  them.’  This 
had  a very  significant  meaning.  Fearful,  lest  our 
Kroo  boys,  who  were  very  much  afraid  of  the  people, 
should  take  the  canoes  and  go  off  in  the  night,  we 
had  the  headman  and  another  to  sleep  in  our  house. 
I need  not  say  we  did  not  sleep  comfortably  that 
night.  There  were  many  rats  running  up  and  down 
the  grass  wall  of  the  house  by  the  side  I was  lying, 
and  sometimes  I wondered  whether  a native  were 
outside  trying  to  get  his  spear  through.  Needless 
fear,  perhaps,  as  they  were  large  enough  in  numbers 
to  easily  overpower  us.  But  amongst  such  people  any 
suspicion  makes  simple  things  assume  horrible  forms.” 

From  Ntamo  the  missionaries  proceeded  to  Nshasha 


MAP  OF  STANLEY  POOL,  CONGO  RIVER. 


35 


36 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


but  when  within  a short  distance  of  the  town,  some 
two  hundred  savages,  hideously  painted,  rushed  out 
upon  them  armed  with  knives,  spears,  clubs,  and 
guns,  and  yelling  in  a most  threatening  manner. 
“ As  they  advanced,”  records  the  journal,  “ we  re- 
treated, palavering  with  them  the  whole  time,  in 
order  that  our  men  might  have  a chance  of  e.scape. 
Once  or  twice  we  felt  it  was  utterly  useless  to  hope 
for  our  lives.  True,  our  lives  were  in  God’s  hands, 
and  we  did  not  fear  though  they  might  kiWus;  but 
our  great  sorrow  and  concern  were  for  the  men  whom 
we  had  brought  with  us,  and  whose  lives  to  a certain 
extent  were  in  our  hands.” 

Their  escape,  it  would  appear,  was  due  to  a dis- 
sension that  arose  amongst  the  chiefs. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  just  a month  according 
to  the  day  of  the  week  from  their  start  on  the  upward 
journey,  the  missionaries  began  to  retrace  their  steps, 
their  return  journey  being  marked  by  various  inci- 
dents. Two  of  these  may  be  mentioned.  When 
three-fourths  of  their  way  down  they  were  agreeably 
surprised  on  entering  a small  town  to  see  a white 
man’s  house  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards  beyond. 
There  they  were  pleased  to  find  two  brethren  stationed 
of  the  Livingstone  Inland  Mission.  After  spending 
two  pleasant  and  refreshing  days  in  their  fellowship 
they  resumed  their  travel. 

Soon  after  this  incident,  Messrs.  Bentley  and  Crud- 
gington  were  very  fortunate  in  meeting  with  Mr. 
Stanley’s  camp.  The  great  traveller  was  most 
friendly,  showing  them  and  their  party  all  possible 
hospitality.  Having  persuaded  them  to  stay  the 
night,  Mr.  Stanley  entered  most  sympathetically 
into  their  plans,  and  next  morning  sent  them  down 
to  Isangila  in  his  steam  launch. 

On  the  15th  of  March  these  brave  pioneers  reached 
Musuka,  the  point  from  which  they  had  started,  with 
hearts  overflowing  with  gratitude  to  their  Heavenly 
Father  and  Divine  Protector,  the  whole  journey. 


EARLY  DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME.  37 

partly  by  river  in  canoes,  and  partly  on  land,  having 
been  accomplished,  not  reckoning  the  time  occupied 
between  Salvador  and  the  Congo  River,  in  forty-seven 
days. 

This  great  feat,  so  essential  to  the  development  of 
the  Congo  Mission,  having  been  thus  so  successfully 
achieved,  it  was  felt  by  the  missionaries  that  time  and 
expense  would  be  saved  if  Mr.  Crudgington  were  to 
proceed  forthwith  to  England  to  confer  with  the  home 
authorities  on  the  establishment  of  a Mission  station 
at  the  Pool  and  at  suitable  intermediate  points  up 
from  Banana. 

Mr.  Grenfell  who  had  returned  to  the  Congo  from 
the  Cameroons,  wrote,  shortly  after  Mr.  Crudgington’s 
departure,  pleading  with  Mr.  Baynes  “to  urge  the 
Churches  at  home  to  do  their  utmost  to  fully  realise 
the  high  privilege  that  the  Master  has  given  to  us  ; 
the  taking  so  important  a part  in  the  evangelisation 
of  this  part  of  Africa.  When,”  he  asks,  “ has  a wider 
door  been  opened  or  a greater  work  attempted  ? Cer- 
tainly not,  in  my  judgment,  since  the  noble  founders 
of  our  Mission  undertook  their  grand  work  in  India.” 

The  executive  were  not  slow  to  respond  to  this 
appeal  from  the  missionaries — indeed  their  appeals 
had  been  anticipated.  Many  generous  gifts  before 
Mr.  Crudgington’s  arrival  had  been  received,  and 
amongst  them  a splendid  sectional  steel  boat  for  use 
on  the  navigable  parts  of  the  Lower  River,  this  being 
the  gift  of  an  anonymous  friend  at  Plymouth,  after 
which  town  the  boat  was  named. 

As  the  result  of  conference  with  Mr.  Crudgington, 
the  Society  resolved  that  the  station  at  San  Salvador 
should  be  maintained  ; that  the  route  to  Stanley  Pool 
should  be  by  the  north  bank  of  the  river ; that  a steam 
launch  for  service  on  the  Upper  Congo,  according  to 
Mr.  Arthington’s  proposal,  should  be  provided  ; that 
intermediate  stations  should  be  founded  ; and  that 
six  additional  brethren  should  be  added  to  the  mission- 
ary staff.  These  decisions  having  been  deliberately 


38  . 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


and  prayerfully  reached,  Mr.  Crudgington,  with  Mr. 
Dixon,  one  of  the  accepted  new  missionaries,  returned 
to  the  Congo. 

The  deep  interest  awakened  by  the  announcement 
of  these  resolutions  called  forth  further  most  encour- 
aging expressions  of  sympathetic  support,  certain 
friends  generously  taking  upon  themselves  the  cost 
of  maintaining  some  of  the  reinforcements. 

And  now  it  was  felt  that  the  time  was  fast  approach- 
ing, when  the  proposed  steamer  would  become  the 
great  want  of  the  Congo  Mission,  as  it  was  hoped 
that  the  intermediate  stations  on  the  Lower  River 
would  without  delay  be  planted.  It  was  consequently 
determined  to  put  the  vessel  in  hand  at  once,  and  its 
construction  was  duly  intrusted  to  the  well-known 
firm,  Messrs.  Thornycroft  & Co.,  of  Chiswick,  the  cost 
to  be  about  £2000,  Mr.  Arthington  meeting  the  entire 
expense,  as  well  as  contributing  ;£^3000  besides  to  be 
invested  for  its  maintenance.  To  Mr.  Grenfell 
would  be  committed  the  responsible  task  of  putting 
the  vessel  together  again  at  Stanley  Pool,  and  it  was 
deemed  desirable  that  he  should  return  to  England 
for  the  purpose  of  watching  its  construction,  Mr. 
Doke,  a student  of  Bristol  College,  the  last  of  the  six 
new  brethren  (the  other  five  being  Messrs.  Dixon, 
Weeks,  Butcher,  Moolenaar,  and  Hughes),  assisting 
him.  In  the  construction  of  the  steamer  a great 
difficulty  presented  itself,  owing  to  the  unnavig- 
able  nature  of  the  greater  part  of  the  Lower  Congo, 
thus  necessitating  the  building  of  the  boat  in  sections, 
each  section  not  to  weigh  more  than  64  lbs.,  the  weight 
of  a cai'rier’s  load.  When  it  is  stated  that  the  steamer 
would,  consequently  have  to  consist  of  some  800  loads, 
it  will  be  felt  how  stupendous  was  the  task  to  be 
accomplished,  her  length  being  70  feet,  and  her  width, 
10  feet  6 inches.  The  boat  was  constructed  with 
screw  propellers,  and  in  seven  watertight  compart- 
ments, and  could  be  driven  at  full  speed  at  twelve 
miles  per  hour. 


DISCHARGING  THIS  PACKAGES  OI'  THE  S.S.  “ PEACE  ” AT  UNDEKHII.I.,  OR  TUNDUWA  STATION,  CONGO  Rl\  ER, 


39 


40 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Early  in  December,  1882,  Messrs.  Grenfell  and 
Doke  left  Liverpool,  taking  with  them  this  precious 
steamer,  henceforth  to  be  known  as  the  Peace^  at  the 
donor’s  special  I'cquest.  But  a terrible  trial  awaited 
the  Mission,  being  nothing  less  than  the  death  of 
Mr.  Doke  almost  immediately  on  his  arrival. 

The  cargo  being  discharged  at  Underhill  station,  and 
carriers  being  procured,  the  march  up  country  began. 
About  a year  and  a-half  passed  away  before  the  Peace 
was  launched,  the  reconstruction  and  whole  manage- 
ment of  the  undertaking  being  regarded  as  a remark- 
able exhibition  of  resourcefulness  and  engineering 
skill. 

Thus  the  early  pioneer  difficulties  of  this  Congo 
Mission,  from  the  starting  of  the  preliminary  expedi- 
tion to  the  launching  of  the  steamer,  were  one  after 
the  other,  in  dependence  upon  God’s  blessing,  heroic- 
ally and  triumphantly  overcome. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS. 

AF'TER  perusing  the  foregoing  pages  some  readers 
may  be  disposed  to  ask  : Is  it  for  such  work  as 
this  a Missionary  Society  exists  ? Is  this 
procedure  after  the  Apostolic  method  ? We 
thought  the  great  commission  ran  : “ Go  and  preach  the 
Gospel!"  Is  this  preaching  the  Gospel!  Only  fail- 
ure to  grasp  the  special  conditions  of  such  a field  of 
missionary  labour  as  that  of  the  Congo  could  permit 
of  these  and  similar  interrogations.  And  how  much 
of  the  work  done  at  home  would  have  to  be  dis- 
approved on  like  grounds  ? But  who  in  the  mission- 
ary enterprise  can  distinguish  between  the  religious 
and  the  secular,  labelling  this  spiritual  and  that 
earthly  ? If  ever  there  were  a mission,  originated  and 
developed  by  men  who  brought  to  their  work  the 
purest,  noblest,  highest  motives,  men  who  found  their 
inspiration  and  powers  of  endurance  in  living  fellowship 
with  the  Divine  Saviour,  it  was  this  Congo  Mission. 

But  do  not  let  us  think  these  Congo  pioneers  were 
indifferent  to  spiritual  results.  It  was  truly  no  love 
of  adventure,  no  mere  liking  for  foreign  travel,  that 

41 


42 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


took  them  from  home  and  friends.  The  power  by 
which  they  were  impelled  was  surely  none  other  than 
the  constraining  love  of  Christ,  and  ardently  through 
all  the  weary  days  did  they  long  for  the  time  to  come 
when  they  would  be  able  to  devote  all  their  energies 
to  the  more  spiritual  aspects  of  their  service,  and  when 
their  great  message  should  everywhere  be  understood 
and  received.  “ Oh  for  the  time,”  exclaimed  one  of 
their  number  — and  he  but  expressed  the  yearning 
of  all  their  hearts — “ when  we  can  write  of  hundreds 
of  souls  saved  ! This  is  our  only  aim  ; we  only  live 
for  this,  and  we  shall  not  work  in  vain.” 

It  would  be  a mistake,  however,  to  suppose  that  the 
whole  of  the  preliminary  period  was  entirely  occupied 
in  travel  and  physical  toil.  Not  only  at  San  Salvador, 
but  elsewhere,  much  direct  and  continuous  evangel- 
istic effort  had  been  put  forth.  It  is  noteworthy  that, 
as  in  William  Carey’s  experience,  and  in  that  of  other 
distinguished  missionaries,  years  of  patient  labour  had 
to  precede  the  ingathering  of  results. 

It  was  not  until  the  March  of  1886,  more  than  eight 
years  after  the  first  entrance  into  Congo,  that  the  first 
baptism  gladdened  the  missionaries’  hearts.  The 
convert  was  Mantu,  Mr.  Comber’s  personal  boy.  For 
a long  time  he  had  given  evidence  of  true  conversion, 
but  there  was  care  not  unduly  to  hurry  the  profession. 
Two  other  converts  would  have  been  baptised  with 
Mantu,  but  one  was  in  England  with  Mr.  Bentley, 
and  the  other  had  a charge  alleged  against  him  which, 
though  false,  it  was  needful  thoroughly  to  disprove. 

With  something  akin  to  the  rapt  feelings  with 
which  Dr.  Carey  baptised  his  first  Hindoo  convert, 
Krishna  Pal,  Mr.  Comber  administered  the  Christian 
ordinance  to  Mantu,  the  first  convert  of  the  Congo 
Mission.  The  service  took  place  about  a mile  outside 
San  Salvador,  in  the  presence  of  the  principal  men 
from  the  town,  a few  women,  and  the  boys  from  the 
school,  of  whom  at  that  time  there  were  as  many  as 
fifty-two  in  attendance.  It  was  a solemn  occasion. 


INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS.  43 

and  the  spectators  were  deeply  impressed  by  what 
they  saw  and  heard. 

About  six  months  after  this  event,  Lo,  the  personal 
boy  of  Mr.Davics,who  went  to  Congo  in  1885, became  a 
decided  Christian.  The  account  written  by  Mr.  Davies 
from  Stanley  Tool  is  so  beautifully  interesting — not 
only  because  of  the  information  it  imparts  concerning 
Lo,  but  as  well  because  of  the  insight  it  gives  into  the 
spirit  of  the  missionary — that  we  are  glad  to  reproduce 
it  in  these  pages.  “ During  all  the  travelling  I have  had 
since  the  beginning  of  April,  Lo  and  I have  been  thrown 
a good  deal  together  ; and  at  night  in  the  tent,  when 
everything  was  settled  for  the  night,  we  generally 
talked  together  a good  bit  about  God  and  His  Son  ; 
and  while  I was  pleased  with  the  conceptions  he  was 
forming  about  God,  I never  said  anything  to  him  to 
make  him  declare  himself  a Christian,  but  preferred 
to  wait  and  let  careful  instruction  bear  its  own  fruit 
in  course  of  time.  There  was  always  the  utmost 
naturalness  and  freedom  in  all  we  said,  and  it  was  he, 
more  than  I,  who  led  our  chats  round  from  things  in 
general  to  God  and  salvation.  I shall  never  forget 
the  decisive  night,  in  a native  house  a day’s  march 
from  here.  We  had  had  an  hour  or  two’s  talk  first 
with  some  of  the  carriers,  which  Lo  carried  on  for  me 
with  great  earnestness  with  them. 

“ By  nine  o’clock  they  had  all  gone  out  to  sleep, 
and,  as  usual,  we  had  a little  quiet  talk  between  our- 
selves, only,  instead  of  gradually  settling  down  to 
sleep,  he  made  more  anxious  inquiries  than  I had 
ever  heard  before  about  salvation,  asking  me  to  teach 
him.  He  told  me  he  wanted  to  serve  God  and  to  do 
right,  but  felt  unable  from  his  weakness  ; and  a thing 
that  pleased  me  was,  he  seemed  to  want  more  to  be 
saved  from  sin — from  sin  itself — rather  than  the 
punishment  of  it  only.  He  showed  so  much  know- 
ledge of  the  true  nature  of  God  and  of  sin,  that  I felt 
I must  do  all  I could  to  help  him  to  be  really  con- 
verted that  night ; and  as  he  leant  over  the  side  of  my 


44 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


bed  and  took  my  hand,  I put  my  arms  round  him  and 
drew  him  to  me,  and  I could  feel  all  his  frame  tremb- 
ling and  his  breast  throbbing,  not  with  hysterical 
excitement,  but  with  intense  emotion  ; in  fact,  we 
were  both  so  quiet,  that  any  one  half  asleep  would  not 
have  heard  us.  For  long  intervals  we  could  neither 
of  us  speak  at  all,  but  we  both  prayed ; and  as  I 
thought  of  things  that  might  be  helpful,  I spoke  to 
him.  We  went  on  in  this  way  till  nearly  midnight, 
when  we  lay  down  again,  he  possessing  the  new  heart 
which  he  was  longing  for.  Every  one  that  asketh 
receiveth,  and  he  that  seeketh  findeth ; and  with  all 
his  heart  he  had  that  night  asked  for  salvation  and 
sought  the  Saviour.  He  is  only  a boy,  perhaps 
fourteen  years  old,  and  he  needs  help.  I have  loved 
him  for  a long  time,  and  all  the  more  now  ; and  as 
his  failings  and  weaknesses  much  resemble  mine  at 
his  age,  I may  be  able  to  help  him  till  he  has  devel- 
oped a strong  Christian  character,  and,  as  far  as  man’s 
help  goes,  can  stand  alone.” 

In  the  meantime,  the  good  work  was  proceeding  at 
San  Salvador.  It  being  felt  that  several  of  the 
people  there  had  become  real  Christians,  the  mission- 
aries in  charge  of  the  stations  resolved  to  have  a week 
of  special  meetings.  The  natives  came  in  large 
numbers,  so  much  so,  that  the  new  large  chapel  then 
in  process  of  building,  capable  of  holding  500  persons, 
had  to  be  used  for  the  services.  The  names  of  over  a 
hundred  inquirers  were  taken  ; many  brought  their 
fetishes  and  publicly  discarded  them.. 

As  Mr.  Comber’s  knowledge  of  the  people  was  of 
longer  duration,  and  of  the  language  more  complete 
than  that  of  the  missionaries  then  at  San  Salvador,  it 
was  deemed  desirable  that  he  should  be  specially 
asked  to  pay  the  station  a visit  at  this  deeply  interest- 
ing but  critical  time.  He  arrived  on  a Friday,  in 
good  time  for  the  Sunday’s  services.  Unfortunately, 
as  he  thought,  when  the  Sunday  came  the  weather 
was  anything  but  inviting,  being  wet  and  chilly.  It 


INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS.  45 


was  questioned  whether  it  would  be  wise  to  hold  the 
morning  service,  but  when  the  bell  was  rung,  in  five 
minutes  the  chapel  was  being  filled — the  women 
hurrying  along  clanking  their  heavy  anklets.  Mr. 
Comber  was  thrilled  with  joy  and  gratitude  when  the 
people  joined  in  singing  the  opening  hymn ; and 
when  he  addressed  them  from  the  words : “ Old 
things  are  passed  away,  behold,  all  things  are  become 


INTERIOR  OK  THE  CHAPEL,  SAN  SALVADOR. 

new,”  the  utmost  decorum  and  most  earnest  attention 
prevailed. 

At  other  meetings  it  was  most  delightful  to  hear 
the  simple  prayers  of  the  native  converts,  and  the 
fervent  words  with  which  they  entreated  their  fellow- 
countrymen  to  become  disciples,  of  Jesus  also. 
Amongst  those  who  declared  themselves  Christians 
were  several  of  the  wives  of  the  old  king.  Dom 


46 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Pedro  did  not  altogether  approve  of  their  attendance 
at  the  meetings.  On  his  forbidding  them  to  go,  they 
felt  they  ought  not  to  be  obedient.  “ The  king 
became  furious.  He  took  gun  and  sword,  and  in  spite 
of  his  age  and  enormous  size,  which  renders  it  difficult 
for  him  to  move  about,  he  came  to  the  outside  of  our 
gate,  and  waited  in  the  dark  for  his  wives.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  meeting,  as  the  people  were  going  to 
their  homes,  there  was  a tremendous  clanking  of 
anklets  and  screaming,  as  the  king  was  found  outside 
the  gate  ; but  no  harm  came,  only  one  woman  being 
struck  with  the  flat  of  the  king’s  sword.  His  wives, 
however,  were  not  allowed  in  his  enclosure,  and  they 
slept  with  Matoko’s  women.  The  following  day  three 
of  them  came  to  see  me  (Mr.  Comber)  privately,  for 
a little  encouragement  and  advice  in  their  trouble. 
They  were  very  strongly  determined  not  to  give  up 
attending  the  meetings,  and  one  of  them  said,  ‘Never 
mind  if  he  kill  us.  We  don’t  mind  dying  for  Jesus;  He 
died  for  us.’  I promised  to  go  and  see  the  king  about 
it,  and  after  a few  words  to  them,  and  a little  prayer, 
in  which  one  of  them  joined,  they  went  back  to 
Matoko’s  enclosure,  and  I went  to  see  the  king. 
I told  him  that  as  king  he  should  require  obedience 
in  many  things,  but  that  it  was  very  wrong  to  try  to 
force  his  people  in  matters  of  religion,  as  their  souls 
were  at  stake.  After  a long  talk  he  agreed  to  with- 
draw his  opposition,  and  to  let  his  wives  return  to 
him,  but  wished  the  time  of  the  evening  meetings  to 
be  altered  to  an  earlier  hour,  so  that  his  wives  should 
be  home  before  dark.  This,  of  course,  we  acceded  to, 
and  hold  our  services  at  five  instead  of  seven.” 

The  missionaries,  feeling  it  to  be  most  important 
that  time  should  test  the  genuineness  of  these  pro- 
fessions, baptism  was  delayed.  And  as  it  was  neces- 
sary to  extend  the  probationary  period  in  some  cases 
longer  than  in  others,  the  baptisms  occurred  at  various 
intervals,  until  at  length,  in  the  course  of  about  two 
years,  twenty-six,  out  of  a large  number  of  inquirers 


INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS. 


47 


concerning  spiritual  things,  had  been  encouraged  to 
make  a profession  of  their  repentance  towards  God 
and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

At  other  stations  the  first-fruits  were  also  being 
ingathered.  In  the  early  part  of  1888,  Wathen  station 
witnessed  the  baptism  of  Nlemvo,  Mr.  Bentley’s  boy, 
and  shortly  after,  two  native  girls  were  baptised. 
The  first  of  these  girls,  Aku,  had  been  brought  down 
from  near  Stanley  Falls  by  an  Arab  chief,  to  be  used 
as  ready  money.  Through  some  transaction,  she 
came  into  the  hands  of  one  of  the  work-people  at  the 
station.  Hearing  of  this  barter,  the  missionary  paid 
the  man  what  he  had  given  for  the  girl,  and  thus  her 
freedom  was  procured.  On  a visit  of  Mrs.  Bentley 
to  England,  Aku,  acted  as  her  little  nurse.  Some- 
time after  her  return,  she  became  thoughtful,  and 
eventually  gave  her  heart  to  the  Saviour.  The  other 
girl,  Kavazwila,  whose  home  was  some  distance 
beyond  the  Falls,  whither  the  Arabs  had  conveyed 
her,  Mr.  Grenfell  redeemed  and  brought  her  down 
the  river.  As  the  result  of  some  talks  Mr.  Comber 
had  with  the  children  at  Underhill,  she  decided 
to  love  and  serve  Christ,  and  became  a happy  and 
devoted  Christian.  Several  were  present  to  witness 
the  baptism  of  these  two  native  girls,  amongst  them 
being  three  gentlemen  of  the  State  Station,  and  some 
of  the  men.  The  Communion  Service  which  followed 
in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  was  particularly 
sacred  and  blessed  ; four  of  those  who  were  present 
as  spectators  found  in  the  service  the  means  of  their 
conversion. 

At  Arthington  Station  on  the  Pool,  too,  similar 
encouraging  events  were  being  experienced.  Through 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Silvey,  who  was  stationed  there, 
three  of  the  native  boys  were  constrained  to  give  their 
hearts  to  the  Saviour.  The  following  particulars  sent 
to  this  country  by  Mr.  Silvey  cannot  fail  to  interest. 

“ Simbi  is  from  the  Madimba  district,  near  San 
Salvador.  He  was  one  of  twins,  but  the  brother, 


48 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


who  was  born  at  the  same  time,  died.  A witch 
palaver  was  held,  and  the  nganga  ngombo  decided 
Simbi  was  the  witch.  He  had  caused  his  brother’s 
death.  The  matter  was  allowed  to  lie  over  until 
Simbi  was  five  years  of  age.  A great  palaver  was 
called,  and  the  people  wished  to  put  Simbi  to  death. 
His  chief  did  not  wish  to  lose  the  boy,  and  so  paid  a 
large  sum  as  a ransom.  Simbi  became  impressed 


MR.  SILVEY’S  three  CONGO  BOYS. 


during  the  San  Salvador  meetings.  He  has  a very 
bad  temper,  and  when  it  has  hold  of  him,  he  used  to 
lose  control  of  himself.  This  has  caused  him  to  fall 
several  times.  For  the  last  year,  with  the  help  of 
God,  he  has  been  able  to  keep  it  under  control.  We 
believe  he  has  had  a change  of  heart,  and  is  truly 
following  Jesus.  Mr.  Grenfell,  Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Billing- 
ton,  and  myself  are  satisfied  as  to  his  conversion. 


INGATHERING  OF  THE  FIRST-FRUITS.  49 

“ Mwema  is  also  from  San  Salvador,  and  has  been 
with  me  full  three  years.  His  heart  was  touched 
at  the  San  Salvador  meetings,  and  his  consistent 
Christian  life  since  leaves  no  room  to  doubt.  He  had 
a bad  leg  recently,  and  went  to  Dr.  Sim’s  hospital  at 
Kintamo.  A few  days  afterwards  I saw  the  doctor, 
and  told  him  we  were  sorry  to  give  him  the  trouble  of 
looking  after  Mwema.  ‘ Why,’  he  said,  ‘ I am  glad  to 
have  him  ; he  is  an  influence  for  good  among  my 
boys ; he  is  always  speaking  to  one  or  another  of 
them.  On  Sunday  evening  I asked  him  to  speak  to 
the  boys  after  prayers ; he  stood  up  and  gave  a 
splendid  testimony.  I have  not  a shadow  of  doubt 
Mwema  is  savingly  converted.’ 

“Ntoni  is  at  present  visiting  his  home  at  San 
Salvador,  and  could  not  be  baptised  yesterday.  He 
will  be  baptised  as  soon  as  convenient.  Ntoni  is  a 
bright  little  fellow.  Everybody  loves  Ntoni,  and  if  I 
wished  to  part  with  him  there  would  be  no  difficulty 
in  finding  someone  to  take  him.  Ntoni  has  been 
impressed  for  some  time,  and  hung  back  a little  ; but 
I urged  him  to  settle  the  matter  once  for  all,  and  I 
believe  he  has  now  given  his  heart  to  Jesus.  When 
travelling  on  the  road  in  the  quiet  of  the  night,  I 
have  seen  Ntoni  creep  into  a corner  of  the  tent  to 
pray.  I asked  Mr.  Billington  to  talk  with  Ntoni. 
He,  Mr.  Billington,  told  me  he  was  very  pleased  with 
Ntoni’s  answers  ; but  he  says,  ‘A  little  incident  came 
under  my  notice  the  other  day  that  speaks  to  me 
louder  than  words.  Bafuka,  my  boy,  was  quarrelling 
with  one  of  the  Bateke  boys  in  the  boys’  house. 
Ntoni  tried  to  stop  them,  but  the  boys  were  too  angry 
to  listen.  Ntoni  took  them  both  by  the  arms,  and 
said,  “ Let  us  pray  about  it ; ” and  down  on  the  floor 
all  the  boys  knelt,  while  Ntoni  asked  God  to  take 
away  the  angry  spirit.  There  was  no  more  quarrel- 
ling that  day.’  Nobody  saw  this,  and  Mr.  Billington 
would  never  have  known  about  it  if  his  own  boy  had 
not  told  him. 


50 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


“ These  boys  are  boys  of  many  prayers  and  much 
personal  effort.  God  has  promised  we  shall  reap  if 
we  faint  not.  To  Him  be  all  the  honour  and  glory.” 
Thus  the  early  efforts  in  the  pioneer  days  were 
receiving  proofs  of  the  Divine  favour ; God  did  not 
leave  Himself  without  a witness,  His  Word  was  not 
returning  unto  Him  void.  In  subsequent  chapters, 
the  progress  of  the  spiritual  work  of  the  Mission  will 
be  recorded. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  WORK  AMONGST  THE  CONGO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS. 

IT  was  only  to  be  expected  that  the  missionaries 
would  feel  the  importance  of  bestowing  much  of 
their  attention  upon  the  welfare  of  the  young. 
They  were  wise  in  remembering  that  in  the 
course  of  a few  years  the  boys  and  girls,  who  might 
be  won  for  Christ,  would  develop  into  useful  Christian 
workers ; and  at  several  of  the  stations  to-day,  the 
religious  services,  the  school  teaching,  and  the  evangel- 
istic efforts,  are  being  largely  maintained  by  those  who 
in  early  life  learned  to  love  the  Saviour. 

And  then  some  of  the  missionaries,  previous  to 
their  life  on  the  Congo,  in  the  home  country  had  been 
especially  happy  in  their  work  amongst  the  young, 
so  that  it  was  most  natural  that  they  should  manifest 
a similar  care  for  the  poor  degraded  African  children. 

How  sorely  the  Congo  children  needed  the  kind 
help  of  the  missionary  their  bitter  lot  declares.  The 
cruel  customs  which  prevail  are  fatal  to  the  existence 
of  home  love  and  joy.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  care  in 
early  life,  a large  percentage  die  in  infancy,  albeit,  the 
mothers  suppose  that  witchcraft  is  the  cause  of  death. 
In  consequence  of  the  custom  of  regarding  children 

51 


52 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


as  the  property  of  the  relatives  of  the  wife,  the  father 
has  little  interest  in  his  family.  “ The  right  of  inherit- 
ance,'’ says  Mr.  Bentley,  in  his  Life  on  the  Congo,  “ is 
from  uncle  to  nephew ; thus  a man’s  slaves  and  real 
property  go  to  the  eldest  son  of  his  eldest  sister,  or 
the  next-of-kin  on  such  lines.  His  uncle  also,  knowing 
that  his  nephew  is  to  inherit  his  goods,  while  his  own 
children  belong  to  his  wife’s  clan,  cares  more  for  his 
nephew  than  his  own  children.” 

The  boys  at  a very  early  age  have  an  eye  to  making 
gains  by  barter.  It  is  their  aim,  for  instance,  to  pos- 
sess, as  soon  as  possible,  a pig  of  their  own,  which  they 
may  be  able  to  sell  profitably  at  the  market.  They 
spend  not  a little  time  in  hunting  for  rats,  especially 
when  the  tall  grass  has  been  fired,  and  the  rats  are 
more  easy  to  catch.  Whilst  they  are  quite  small  they 
will  frequently  leave  their  own  homes  to  live  with 
other  and  older  boys  in  what  is  called  a Mbonge. 

The  girls  help  on  the  farms  and  in  the  cooking  ; 
they,  like  their  mothers,  do  most  of  the  menial  work. 
They  are  often  betrothed  when  little  children,  and 
before  their  marriage  the  price  which  has  been  fixed 
upon  by  the  girl’s  relatives  has  to  be  paid.  Some  of 
the  girls  are  free  girls  ; but  most  of  them  are  slaves, 
and  thus  being  the  absolute  property  of  their  masters, 
are  exposed  to  most  cruel  treatment. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  children  are 
always  unhappy.  The  boys  at  least  enter  with  zest 
into  their  native  games,  and  much  of  their  time  is 
merrily  spent  in  swimming,  fishing,  and  fighting  sham 
battles. 

They  are  naturally  very  superstitious,  being  led  to 
believe  from  infancy  in  the  powerful  influence  of 
charms,  and  the  terrible  powers  of  the  witch  doctors. 

As  so  much  of  the  time  of  the  missionaries  has 
been  devoted  to  the  Christian  education  of  the 
children,  it  will  be  interesting  if  we  give  a specimen 
of  the  stories  the  lads  tell  each  other  as  they  sit  at 
night  around  their  fires.  We  are  indebted  to  Mr. 


WORK  AMONG  THE  CONGO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS.  53 

Darby  of  Lukolela  for  the  following  rendering  of  one 
of  their  stories  : — 

“THE  LEOPARD,  THE  DOG,  AND  THE  TORTOISE. 

“ A dog  and  a leopard  lived  near  together  in  the 
forest.  Each  had  his  own  hole  in  the  ground,  and  in 
it  he  lived.  One  day  the  leopard  gave  birth  to  ten 
children.  The  dog  came  to  see  them,  and  the  leopard 
said  to  him,  ‘ Hey  ! Mister  Dog  ! You  stop  here  and 
watch  my  children  while  I go  and  hunt  some  food  for 
them.  When  I come  back,  if  I find  that  you  have 
taken  good  care  of  my  family,  I will  give  you  a piece 
of  meat  for  yourself’  ‘ All  right,’  said  the  dog.  The 
leopard  had  scarcely  got  hidden  among  the  trees 
when  a tortoise  came  along.  ‘ Hello,  dog  ! ’ said  he, 
‘how  are  you  to-day,  and  what  are  you  doing  here?’ 

‘ Oh,’  said  the  dog,  ‘ the  leopard  has  gone  out  to  hunt, 
and  he  has  left  me  to  watch  his  children,  and  when  he 
returns  he  is  going  to  give  me  some  meat.’  ‘ I say, 
dog,’  said  the  tortoise,  ‘ it  is  no  use  waiting  until  the 
leopard  returns;  bring  out  one  of  those  young  leopards 
and  let  us  kill  and  eat  it.’  ‘ I dare  not,’  said  the  dog ; 

‘ when  the  leopard  returns  and  finds  one  of  his  children 
missing  he  will  immediately  kill  me.’  ‘ Oh,  never 
mind  the  leopard,’  said  the  tortoise,  ‘ he  can’t  count, 
and  the  young  leopards  are  all  alike,  he  does  not 
know  one  from  the  other,  so  can’t  tell  if  one  is  missing.’ 
At  last  the  dog  brought  forth  one  of  the  young 
leopards,  killed  it,  and  he  and  the  tortoise  ate  it.  In  the 
evening  the  leopard  returned  when  it  was  dark.  ‘ Well, 
dog’  said  he,  ‘ are  the  children  all  safe  ?’  ‘ Oh,  yes,’ 

said,  the  dog.  ‘ Very  well,  then,  come  and  let  us  have 
some  supper.’  Next  day  the  leopard  again  went  in 
search  of  food  and  left  the  dog  in  charge  of  his  family. 
The  tortoise  came  again  as  before,  and  another  young 
leopard  was  eaten.  So  it  went  on  for  five  days,  and 
only  five  of  the  young  leopards  were  left.  At  the  end 
of  the  fifth  day,  when  the  leopard  returned,  he  said. 


54 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


‘ Dog,  are  the  children  all  safe  ? ’ ‘ Yes,’  said  the  dog. 

‘ Let  me  see  them  ! ’ The  dog  began  to  tremble, 
but,  acting  on  the  advice  of  the  tortoise,  he  brought 
out  one  young  leopard  at  a time,  and  then  returned  it 
to  the  hole  before  bringing  out  another.  In  this  way 
he  made  it  appear  as  if  there  were  ten  young  leopards.  ■* 
The  leopard  was  satisfied.  They  ate  their  suppers 
and  went  to  bed.  Next  day  the  leopard  went  off 
hunting  again,  and  again  the  tortoise  came  up  begging 
for  another  young  leopard.  The  dog  was  afraid,  and 
told  him  how  the  leopard  had  counted  the  children 
the  day  before.  The  tortoise  said  that  it  was  very 
easy  to  deceive  a leopard.  All  he  had  to  do  was  to 
trust  to  him  (the  tortoise)  and  he  would  see  that  all 
was  right.  So  they  ate  another  young  leopard.  At 
last  only  one  of  the  family  remained.  ‘ Dog,’  said  the 
leopard,  ‘ my  heart  yearns  for  my  family  ; let  me  see 
them  one  by  one.’  So  the  dog  went  to  the  hole  and 
brought  out  the  young  leopard  and  showed  it  to  its 
mother.  Then  he  carried  it  back  into  the  hole  and 
brought  it  back  again.  This  he  did  ten  times,  so 
making  the  leopard  believe  that  all  her  family  remained 
in  the  hole. 

“ Next  day  the  tortoise  came  again,  and  he  and  the 
dog  ate  the  last  of  the  young  leopards.  ‘Now,  dog,’ 
said  the  tortoise,  ‘when  the  leopard  asks  you  how 
many  children  he  has,  you  tell  him.  None.  If  he  says. 
Where  are  they  ? Tell  him  that  you  and  I have  eaten 
them,  and  then  run  off  as  hard  as  you  can  to  the 
towns,  and  live  among  the  people  there,  for  they  like 
dogs,  but  always  try  to  kill  leopards.’ 

“ In  the  evening,  when  the  leopard  came  home  and 
asked  the  usual  questions,  the  dog  replied  as  the 
tortoise  had  instructed  him.  Then  the  leopard 
became  very  angry,  and  ran  after  the  dog  as  fast  as 
he  could,  and  the  dog  also  ran  as  fast  as  he  could 
until  he  reached  the  town.  When  the  people  saw 
him,  they  said,  ‘ Hello  dog,  have  you  come  to  live 
with  us  ? That  is  good!  Abide  here  always.’  Just 


WORK  AMONG  THE  CONGO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS.  55 

then  they  heard  a noise  in  the  forest,  and,  looking 
around,  they  saw  the  leopard.  They  immediately  got 
their  guns  and  spears  and  drove  him  off.  He  returned 
and  told  all  his  brother  leopards,  and  from  that  day 
to  this,  whenever  a leopard  can  carry  off  and  eat  a 
dog,*  he  does  so  in  order  to  revenge  the  death  of  his 
young  kinsfolk.” 

The  first  school  opened  for  these  Congo  boys  was, 
of  course,  at  San  Salvador.  When  the  missionaries 
had  succeeded  in  overcoming  their  shyness,  and 
established  a feeling  of  friendship,  the  boys  were  most 
eager  to  be  taught.  They  watched  for  every  oppor- 
tunity that  arose,  they  followed  the  missionaries 
about,  and  were  disappointed  when  no  school  could 
be  held.  By  their  kindness  and  interest  in  them,  the 
missionaries  gained  such  an  influence  over  them  that 
there  was  nothing  the  boys  would  not  do  to  be  in 
their  company.  No  wonder  that  a considerable 
school  was  soon  established,  and  that  as  the  mission 
developed,  and  other  stations  were  planted,  school  work 
should  grow  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  factors. 

The  boys  are  represented  as  remarkably  quick 
in  learning,  being  by  no  means  dull  and  stupid. 
When  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  they  were  without  any 
literature,  without  indeed  a formulated  language,  the 
rapid  progress  many  of  the  lads  have  made  in  read- 
ing, writing,  and  arithmetic,  indicates  most  promising 
intellectual  ability,  so  that  there  is  good  reason  to 
believe  that  as  Congo-land  advances  in  civilisation, 
the  Congo  natives  will  be  quite  equal  in  mental 
capacity  and  attainment  to  the  requirements  of  their 
improved  lot. 

It  must  not  be  thought  that  the  boys  are  induced 
to  come  to  the  schools  by  reason  of  bribes.  When 
they  do  come  from  a distance,  it  is  found  necessary 


* The  natives  say  among  themselves  that  leopards  prefer  dog  flesh  to 
that  of  any  other  animal. 


56 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


to  provide  them  with  the  means  of  subsistence,  but 
this  being  of  the  most  frugal  character  is  inexpensive, 
and  in  most  cases  is  provided  by  the  special  offerings 
of  Sunday  schools  in  England.  When,  however,  the 
friends  of  the  boys  live  at  or  near  a station,  such 
supplies  are  not  allowed. 

The  accompanying  picture  repre.sents  a midsummer 
treat  at  the  Bopoto  Station — one  thousand  miles  from 
the  coast — which,  with  the  Christmas  entertainments, 
are  the  only  inducements  given  to  secure  attendance 
at  school. 

The  late  Mrs.  Cameron,  just  before  her  death,  sent 
to  the  Mission  House  in  London  the  following 
account  of  the  way  in  which  Christmas  had  been 
spent  at  Ngombe  or  Wathen  Station  on  the  lower 
river.  “ About  half-past  seven  in  the  morning  my 
husband  called  all  the  boys  and  workmen  together, 
and  I gave  each  boy  a shirt  and  waistcloth,  the  men 
a cloth  and  handkerchief.  The  girls  and  women  on 
the  station  got  each  a dress.  In  this  way  we  clothed 
in  all  about  a hundred  and  twenty.  At  eight  o’clock 
a service  was  held.  Afterwards  the  children  amused 
themselves  as  they  liked,  many  of  them  going  into 
the  house  of  Mr.  Davies,  others  coming  into  ours, 
playing  with  toys  and  looking  at  picture-books,  etc. 

“About  half-past  one  the  great  event  of  the  day 
took  place.  This  consisted  of  races,  jumping,  tug- 
of-war,  and  scramble. 

“ Mr.  Davies  and  my  husband  were  the  judges,  and 
awarded  the  prizes  to  those  who  had  won  them. 
These  lasted  for  about  two  hours,  and  the  children 
were  glad  of  a rest  after  their  exertions. 

“ About  five  o’clock  we  began  to  share  out  the 
which  constitutes  to  the  Congo  mind  a feast.  No 
festival  is  complete  without  a pig. 

“ We  also  used  during  the  day  ten  gallons  of  lemon- 
ade, and  a large  number  of  pine-apples.  We  left  the 
children  enjoying  their  feast,  and  went  to  get  our 
house  ready  for  the  evening’s  entertainment. 


schoolboys’  midsummer  treat,  bopoto. 


57 


58 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


“ Outside  the  house  we  had  a number  of  Chinese 
lanterns,  which,  when  lit,  gave  quite  a bright  light 
all  around. 

“About  half-past  seven  the  children  came  to  the 
house,  and  we  had  a magic-lantern  entertainment ; 
the  subject  was  ‘ The  Pilgrim’s  Progress.’  I ex- 
hibited the  views,  and  my  husband  explained  them. 
The  children  listened  most  attentively,  and  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  views  very  much.  When  this  was  over, 
a large  tin  trunk  was  brought  out,  which  contained 
a present  for  each  child,  with  its  name  written  on  the 
paper  which  was  wrapped  round  it.  I wish  you  who 
have  so  kindly  sent  toys  to  me  could  have  seen  the 
children’s  faces  when  they  opened  their  parcels.  You 
would  indeed  have  been  glad  you  sent  the  toys  to 
make  these  children  happy  ; but  I ’m  afraid  the  noise 
they  made  when  they  began  blowing  trumpets,  etc., 
would  almost  have  frightened  you  away.  At  last  we 
said  good-night,  and  before  very  long  all  the  children 
were  fast  asleep,  most  of  them  having  been  up  since 
five  o’clock  in  the  morning.  We  all  spent  a very 
happy  day.” 

At  this  particular  station,  Wathen,  the  facilities  for 
imparting  instruction  to  the  young  have  been  greatly 
extended  by  means  of  a generous  gift  of  a school- 
house  from  the  late  Sir  Charles  Wathen,  after  whom 
the  station  has  been  named.  This  building  is  thirty- 
six  feet  wide  by  eighty  feet  long,  being  equally  divided 
into  a school-room  and  dormitory.  The  structure  is 
admirably  arranged  with  a view  to  good  sanitary 
conditions.  The  dormitory  has  accommodation  for 
one  hundred  and  twenty  boys ; at  the  present  time, 
the  attendance  at  the  school  is  about  one  hundred, 
including  a small  number  of  girls,  who  are  under 
Mrs.  Bentley’s  care.  The  largest  girls’  school  is  at 
San  Salvador,  which  Mrs.  Lewis  superintends. 

And  not  only  is  the  educational  progress  of  the 
Congo  boys  a cause  for  much  encouragement ; but  by 
their  devotion,  their  fidelity,  their  tenderness  in  times 


TWO  LUKOLEI.A  BOYS. 


[/.  6o. 


59 


6o 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST.  ' 


of  sickness,  they  have  endeavoured  gratefully  to  repay 
the  kindly  interest  the  missionaries  have  taken  in 
their  welfare. 

The  aptitude  which  has  been  shown  by  these  boys  in 
the  various  industries  taught  them,  will  find  more 
fitting  reference  in  a subsequent  chapter. 

A large  part  of  this  volume  might  be  filled  with 
deeply  interesting  accounts  of  the  personal  history, 
the  conversion  and  Christian  character  of  these  Congo 
scholars.  We  cannot  more  appropriately  conclude 
this  chapter  than  by  giving  a description  of  the 
Lukolela  lads,  whose  portraits,  taken  by  Mr.  Darby, 
are  seen  in  the  illustration  on  page  59. 

The  one  on  the  right  dressed  in  white  is  Bateku. 
He  was  Mr.  Richard’s  boy.  “ I was  born,”  he  himself 
says,  “ in  a town,  far  away  inland,  many,  many  miles 
from  this  place.  I do  not  know  its  name.  There 
were  many  people  there,  and  they  were  always  fight- 
ing with  the  neighbouring  towns.  It  was  in  one  of 
these  fights  that  I was  captured  and  made  a slave. 
The  people  who  captured  me  brought  me  a long  way 
from  my  town  and  parents,  though  I do  not  now 
remember  my  father  or  mother.  These  people  (my 
captors)  sold  me  to  some  other  people.  They  cut 
some  of  these  marks  that  are  on  my  body.  After 
living  here  some  time  I was  again  sold  and  carried  to 
the  River  Lulanga.  Here  they  put  their  marks  on 
my  body.  While  living  here  Diwoko  (his  present 
master)  came  and  bought  me ; he  brought  me  to 
Lokoele.  The  people  here  cut  these  marks  on  my 
forehead.  After  awhile  the  white  men  came,  and  now 
I have  come  to  live  at  their  town.” 

The  other  boy  on  the  left  is  Mr.  Darby’s  personal 
boy.  His  native  name  is  Latumba,  though  he  is 
called  “Jack.”  Let  him  tell  his  own  story: — “ I was 
born  far  away  inland  at  a town  called  Likuba.  It  is 
many  days’  journey  from  here.  There  is  no  large 
river  there.  The  people  are  all  very  poor.  Every- 
body wears  the  native  grass  cloth.  They  have  no 


WORK  AMONG  THE  CONGO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS.  6 1 


white  man’s  cloth.  I remember  both  my  father  and 
mother,  and  if  I were  to  see  them  I think  I should 
know  them.  One  day  some  people  came  from 
another  town  to  fight  us.  My  people  were  obliged  to 
run  away.  My  mother  left  me  on  the  ground  and 
ran  away  with  the  rest.  I and  several  other  little 
children  and  a number  of  women  were  captured  and 
made  slaves.  They  brought  me  a long  way  from  my 
home  and  sold  me.  I lived  here  a long  time.  Some 
people  came  from  the  Lulanga  to  trade,  and  I was 
sold  to  them  and  carried  to  their  town.  After  living 
here  some  time  I was  again  sold.  This  time  Eyoka’s 
wife  bought  me,  and  I was  brought  to  Lokoele. 
(Eyoka  is  one  of  the  big  chiefs  at  Lokoele.)” 

“How  much  did  you  cost.  Jack?”  Mr.  Darby 
continues. 

“ Soko  ! ” (perhaps),  he  replied. 

“ Perhaps  ten  brass  rods  ? ” (about  6d.) 

“ Perhaps  ! I don’t  know.” 

“ I do  not  think  the  elder  of  the  two  is  more  than 
nine  years  old.” 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LITERARY  LABOURS. 

ONE  of  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the  Congo 
as  a mission  field,  was  the  important  con- 
sideration of  its  language  not  being  available 
to  the  missionaries  in  any  reduced,  literary 
form.  Upon  the  pioneers,  therefore,  devolved  the 
immensely  difficult  task  of  collecting  words  with  a 
view  to  the  compilation  of  a Dictionary,  and  for  the 
purposes  of  translation,  of  the  still  further  duty  of 
constructing  a grammar  on  sound  principles  and  rules. 
But  as  in  other  missions,  so  in  this  Congo  Mission, 
the  Divine  Providence  is  conspicuously  seen  in  sup- 
plying the  workman  to  accomplish  the  work  required 
to  be  done.  To  Mr.  W.  Holman  Bentley  belongs  the 
great  honour  of  having  been  called  to  fill  the  high 
position  of  Philologist  and  Translator  in  connection 
with  this  particular  African  Mission — a position  grate- 
fully and  unanimously  recognised  by  his  fellow- 
missionaries. 

At  the  outset  Mr.  Bentley  was  absolutely  without 
the  use  of  any  vocabularies  with  the  exception  of 
some  fifty  words  which  Mr.  Comber  and  Mr.  Grenfell 
had  picked  up  on  their  preliminary  expedition.  The 
62 


LITERARY  LABOURS. 


63 


most  helpful  work  to  which  he  had  recourse  was 
Bishop  Steere’s  Handbook  of  Swahili,  which  enabled 
him  to  gain  some  idea  of  a language  in  certain  re- 
spects similar  to  that  of  the  Congo.  After  he  had  pro- 
ceeded some  way  with  his  task,  he  was  glad  to  become 
acquainted  with  a translation  by  Mr.  H.  Grattan 
Guinness  of  a Latin  work,  discovered  in  the  British 
Museum,  containing  some  rules  for  the  more  easy 
understanding  of  the  most  difficult  idioms  of  the 
people  of  the  Congo,  written  by  a Roman  Catholic 
Prefect  in  1659.  A small  grammar  also,  which  Mr. 
Guinness  published  subsequently,  of  the  dialect  spoken 
at  Mpalabala,  supplied  some  fifty  words. 

In  entering  upon  this  tremendous  undertaking,  Mr. 
Bentley  was  almost  entirely  dependent  upon  the 
workmen,  the  carriers,  and  especially  upon  the  child- 
ren. With  the  children  he  was,  therefore,  constantly 
in  contact,  often  playing  with  them  at  their  games, 
ever  ready  to  note  down  any  new  words  he  might 
happen  to  hear.  In  the  evenings  he  would  discuss 
with  his  colleagues  the  additions  made  to  his  stock. 
As  his  own  knowledge  of  the  language  and  facility 
' for  speaking  it  grew,  he  was,  of  course,  able  to  take 
the  opinion  of  the  natives  so  as  to  correct  his  mis- 
takes. 

The  study  of  the  language  was  necessarily  much 
Interfered  with  by  the  itinerating  required  for  estab- 
lishing the  new  stations.  “ It  was  very  difficult,”  says 
Mr.  Bentley,  “ to  find  time  to  record  the  words 
acquired  and  make  the  necessary  corrections.  Now 
and  then  we  had  opportunities  for  taking  down  some 
fire-side  stories,  and  this  folk-lore  gave  us  new  words. 
We  were  too  busy  to  study,  classify,  or  enter  the 
words  ; but  our  careful  notes  and  rough  memoranda 
were  treasured  up,  and  whenever  a little  leisure  could 
be  found,  the  attempt  was  made  to  lessen  the  ever- 
growing bundle  of  papers.” 

A large  stock  of  material  having  been  thus  accumu- 
lated Mr.  Bentley  returned  to  England  to  set  about  its 


64 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


preparation  for  the  press,  bringing  with  him  a lad 
named  Nlemvo,  who  had  been  taught  in  the  school 
at  Salvador.  This  was  in  the  year  1884.  “On 
arriving  in  this  country,”  to  quote  again  Mr.  Bentley’s 
own  words,  “ it  was  found  that  there  was  much  more 
to  be  done  with  the  chaotic  manuscript  which  I had 
brought  home  with  me  than  we  at  first  expected. 
Prepositions,  pronouns,  adverbs,  and  conjunctions 
seemed  to  be  used  indiscriminately ; Vo,  for  instance, 
standing  for  ‘ on,  off,  from,  there,  when,  after,  thither, 
if,  etc.’  It  was  clear  that  more  time  and  thought 
were  necessary  to  solve  these  difficulties,  and  find  out 
the  rules  by  which  things  worked.  This  was  done  by 
making  up  English  sentences,  in  which  the  English 
adverbs,  conjunctions,  etc.,  were  used  in  every  conceiv- 
able way,  and  then  translating  these  into  Congo. 
Bishop  Steere’s  and  other  vocabularies  were  again 
searched  for  special  phases  of  action  and  ideas,  which 
should  form  their  counterpart  in  Congo,  and  so  things 
began  to  take  a more  definite  form.  Finally, 
in  writing  out  for  the  printers,  Mr.  Kolbe’s  ‘ Herero 
Dictionary  ’ was  before  me,  lest  any  shade  of  idea  of 
English  verbs,  simple  or  compound  with  prepositions, 
such  as  ‘ to  come  ’ or  ‘to  come  in  crowds,’  etc., 
should  have  escaped  my  attention.  Even  at  this 
stage,  new  words  were  constantly  cropping  up,  and, 
wherever  possible,  inserted  into  the  proofs  that  were 
under  correction.  My  work  was  growing  larger  than 
I had  ever  expected.  Instead  of  being  simply  a 
clear  transcription  of  the  material  brought  home  with 
me,  the  end  of  the  work  seemed  ever  receding.  I 
had  hoped  and  expected  to  keep  my  printers  well 
supplied  with  copy  as  the  transcriptions  progressed, 
but  the  correction  of  the  proofs  revealed  errors,  and 
sometimes  also  fresh  niceties  of  thought,  which  required 
a great  deal  of  time  to  formulate  correctly. 

“ As  the  proofs  of  the  English-Congo  section  came 
in  from  the  printers,  I sent  them  to  a friend,  to  be 
written  for  the  reversed  section  of  Congo  into  English. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  HOLMAN  HKN  lLtY  .AND  llIKlk  C0N(;0  ASSISTANTS. 


66 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


He  wrote  each  word,  as  it  appeared,  with  its  English 
equivalent  on  a separate  slip  of  paper.  As  he  sent  in 
his  slips  from  time  to  time,  they  were  sorted  into 
alphabetical  order,  according  to  the  Congo  word  on 
each  slip.  Later  corrections  or  additions  were  also 
written  on  slips  and  sorted  in,  so  that  finally  every 
usage  of  a word,  any  corrections  made,  were  found 
together  in  its  alphabetical  order.  In  this  way  not  only 
the  type  was  corrected,  but  the  mistakes  were  elimina- 
ted from  the  second  section.  These  reversal  slips, 
eventually  numbering  25,000,  being  kept  in  trays  and 
measuring  between  nine  and  ten  feet  in  thickness. 
As  fast  as  the  type  was  set  up,  the  writing  and  sorting 
of  these  slips  progressed;  and  when  the  first  section  was 
finished  and  the  last  slip  written,  the  work  of  revising 
them  for  the  press  began.  All  the  slips  containing 
one  particular  Congo  word  were  examined,  and  the 
different  translations  grouped  and  written  under  one 
heading.” 

Whilst  this  important  and  careful  work  was  pro- 
ceeding Mr.  Bentley’s  eyesight  for  a time  seriously 
failed  him,  insomuch  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
continue  his  labours ; but  Mrs.  Bentley,  who  had 
been  rendering  him  most  valuable  assistance,  under- 
stood the  principles  upon  which  the  work  was 
conducted,  and  so  was  able,  under  his  direction,  to 
carry  on  the  undertaking.  The  picture  we  are  able  to 
give  shows  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bentley  with  Nlemvo  at 
work,  the  girl  upon  the  right  being  a native  who  had 
been  brought  down  from  the  upper  Congo. 

It  should"  be  mentioned  here  that  Mr.  Bentley  and 
his  colleagues  ever  felt  grateful  that  they  were  led  in 
the  first  instance  to  San  Salvador,  the  Congo  language 
as  spoken  in  that  old  capital  being  far  superior  to 
dialects  used  elsewhere  and  being  understood  over  a 
wider  area. 

It  must  be  especially  remembered  that  in  all  this 
arduous  labour  of  collecting  words,  reducing  them  to 
dictionary  and  grammar,  Mr.  Bentley  had  ever  kept 


LITERARY  LABOURS. 


67 

steadfastly  before  him  the  great  object  which  all  such 
labour  was  intended  to  promote — viz.,  the  translation 
of  the  Scriptures.  He  consequently  felt  that  the 
greatest  care  and  thoroughness  were  required. 

In  the  September  of  1886,  Mr.  Bentley  was  again 
in  Africa,  and  in  the  following  year,  his  most 
valuable  work,  under  the  title  of  “ Dictionary  and 
Grammar  of  the  Congo  Language”  appeared,  dedi- 
cated by  special  permission  to  His  Majesty,  Leopold 
II.,  King  of  the  Belgians  and  Sovereign  of  the  Congo 
hree  State,  who,  in  acknowledging  the  presentation 
copy,  described  the  volume  as  “this  noble  contribution 
to  the  progress  and  development  of  civilisation  in 
Central  Africa  and  the  material  improvement  and 
uplifting  of  the  Congo  people.” 

In  the  introduction  to  the  volume,  consisting,  it 
may  be  stated,  of  over  700  pages.  Dr.  Cust,  the 
Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society,  thus 
writes  : — “ It  is  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  the 
Kingdom  of  the  Lord  that  this  great  work  has  been 
commenced,  continued,  and  completed.  It  is  a solid 
brick  in  the  great  edifice  of  the  evangelisation  of 
Africa,  for,  how  can  they  hear  unless  they  are  spoken 
to?  How  can  they  be  spoken  to  unless  the  mission- 
ary masters  the  vulgar  tongue  of  the  people  to  whom 
he  is  sent?  Mr.  Bentley  has  concentrated  his  great 
talents  to  this  noble  work  in  the  hope  that  it  will 
enable  his  colleagues,  and  those  who  come  after  him, 
to  spread  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  This  was  his  main 
object,  and  for  this  purpose  only,  the  funds  of  a 
Missionary  Society  can  be  properly  devoted  to  the 
expense  of  such  publications. 

“ But  the  scholars  of  Europe  and  North  America 
would  indeed  be  dead  to  all  feeling,  did  they  not  feel 
gratitude  to  missionaries  like  Mr.  Bentley,  who  have 
revealed  to  them  new  worlds,  and  helped  them  to 
enter  in,  and  admire  the  beauties  of  hitherto  sealed 
gardens.  The  Congo  language  takes  its  place,  by  the 
side  of  the  Swahili,  the  Zulu,  and  the  Pongwe,  as  one  of 


68 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


the  typical  languages  of  the  Bantu  family.  Differing 
from  each  other  in  many  particulars,  they  still  have 
such  ineffaceable  affinities  as  indicate  their  common 
stock.  The  mechanism  of  one  often  explains  mis- 
understood anomalies  in  the  others.  Mr.  Bentley  has 
been  able  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  many  knotty  points, 
which  will,  no  doubt,  throw  a reflected  light  on  un- 
explained features  in  sister  languages,  of  which  the 
study  is  only  now  commencing.” 

About  two  years  ago  this  work  was  rendered  still 
more  valuable  by  the  addition  of  an  appendix  con- 
taining about  3000  new  words. 

As  to  other  literary  productions,  for  use  in  the 
schools  in  San  Salvador  and  the  lower  river  stations, 
where  the  Congo  language  is  spoken,  Mrs.  Bentley 
has  translated  “ The  Congo  Primer,”  a book  of 
Arithmetic,  in  three  parts,  “ More  about  Jesus,”  and 
a Bible  History.  Nlemvo  has  contributed  a trans- 
lation of  “ The  Peep  of  Day,”  whilst  Mr.  Weeks 
has  translated  several  of  the  Psalms  and  some  ele- 
mentary school-books  as  well  as  issued  a Congo 
Hymn-Book. 

But  the  great  want  of  the  Mission  was  ever  kept  in 
view.  To  supply  that  want  was  the  purpose  for  which 
the  dictionary  and  grammar  had  been  prepared 
— viz.,  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the 
vernacular.  The  publication  of  Mr.  Bentley’s  work 
rapidly  facilitated  the  issue  of  portions  of  the  Bible  ; 
Mr.  Weeks  translating  the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  Mr. 
Cameron  the  Gospel  of  Mark,  whilst  Mr.  Bentley 
himself  not  only  supplied  in  separate  issues  the 
Gospels  of  Luke  and  John,  but  actually  carried  on 
his  translation  work  with  such  success  that  in  March, 
1893,  he  rendered  into  Congo  all  the  rest  of  the 
books  of  the  New  Testament ; and  having  completed 
this  second  great  achievement  on  behalf  of  the  Congo 
Mission,  the  sheets  of  the  entire  New  Testament 
were  sent  to  the  press,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  defraying  the  expense  of  printing. 


LITERARY  LABOURS. 


69 


But  these  literary  results  to  which  we  have  so  far 
referred,  concern  only  the  stations  at  San  Salvador, 
and  those  on  the  Lower  Congo,  Underhill  and 
Wathen  ; though  it  is  doubtless  true  that  the  diction- 
ary and  grammar  will  be  of  real  service  in  regions 
where  other  languages  than  that  of  the  Congo  proper 
are  spoken. 

But  not  a little  progress  has  been  made  in  the 
other  four  languages  prevailing  in  different  parts  of 
the  Congo  mission  field. 

At  Bolobo,  the  first  station  above  the  Pool,  Messrs. 
Darby  and  Glennie  have  collected  considerable 
material  for  a dictionary  of  the  Bobangi  language. 

At  Lukolela,  Mr.  Scrivener  has  rendered  into  the 
same  language  the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  a book  of 
Bible  stories,  and  the  first  part  of  “Line  upon  Line;” 
whilst  Mr.  Clark  has  issued  a short  life  of  Abraham  ; 
and  Lusala,  the  native  assistant,  “ More  about  Jesus.” 
A hymn-book  and  a school-book  by  Mr.  Whitehead 
have  also  been  published,  and  still  more  recently  the 
Gospel  of  Mark  by  Mr.  Whitehead  and  Mr.  Clark 
conjointly. 

At  Monsembi,  a knowledge  of  the  language  spoken 
by  the  Bangala  : the  Ja-Bonsembi,  is  being  mastered, 
and  a few  hymns,  some  simple  Gospel  stories,  and  a 
school  primer  have  already  been  passed  through  the 
press  by  Messrs.  Weeks  and  Stapleton. 

At  Bopoto,  the  most  distant  station,  thousands  of 
words  of  the  spoken  language,  the  Ja-Upoto,  have 
been  collected,  and  a school  reading  book,  some 
Scripture  lessons  and  several  hymns  have  been 
published. 

It  is  cause  for  wonder  and  thankfulness  that  such 
substantial  progress  should  have  been  made  in  so 
comparatively  short  a period,  to  supply  the  natives 
with  educational  and  sacred  literature.  And  there  is 
every  prospect  that  still  further  invaluable  contribu- 
tions will  be  made  to  this  essentially  important  part 
of  the  missionary  enterprise. 


70 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


It  should  be  stated  here  that  in  these  literary- 
labours  the  “Hannah  Wade”  Press,  the  gift  of  a 
friend  at  Halifax,  and  which  is  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Mr.  Scrivener  and  Mr.  Whitehead,  and 
which  is  located  at  Lukolela  has  been  of  the  greatest 
utility.  By  a recent  additional  present  of  plant,  the 
printing  demands  of  the  Congo  Mission,  and  of  other 
missions  on  the  Upper  River  can  be  fully  met.  It 
may  be  mentioned  in  closing  this  chapter  that  at  the 
recent  Exhibition  in  Antwerp,  the  specimens  of  the 
Lukolela  printing  which  were  then  on  view  called 
forth  general  admiration. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION 
AND  PHILANTHROPY. 

The  presence  of  a Christian  missionary  amongst 
a degraded,  heathen  people,  necessarily  makes 
for  the  improvement  of  the  conditions  of  life. 
His  influence  is  humanising  and  ameliorating. 
As  the  Divine  Father  sent  the  Divine  Son  into  the 
world,  even  so  hath  the  Son  sent  His  servants  into 
the  world  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  poor,  to  heal  the 
broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives, 
recovery  of  sight  to  the  blind,  and  to  set  at  liberty 
them  that  are  bruised — and  this  not  alone  in  the 
higher,  the  spiritual  sense,  but  to  a large  extent  also 
physically  and  materially.  Testimonies  from  men 
high  in  station  and  authority,  well  qualified  to  judge, 
might  be  multiplied  a hundred  fold,  who  have  borne 
unsolicited  witness  to  the  temporal  benefits  resulting 
from  Christian  missions. 

The  Congo,  in  this  respect,  is  no  exception  to 
other  mission  fields.  The  gathering  together  of  the 
children  in  Christian  schools  for  instruction  in  the 
elements  of  education  is  bound  to  have  its  good 
effect  upon  the  general  community.  Already,  not  a 

71 


72 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


few  of  the  boys,  having  entered  upon  manhood,  have 
come  to  realise  that  knowledge  is  power,  and  because 
of  the  religious  training  they  have  received  are  using 
their  power  for  the  advantage  of  others  as  well  as  of 
themselves. 

The  pioneer  nature  of  the  Mission,  necessitating  the 
founding  of  stations,  the  building  of  houses  and  other 
structures,  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  and  general 
station  work,  has  given  the  missionaries  abundant 
opportunity  to  teach  the  natives  many  useful  arts. 
The  Congo  Mission  is  not  entitled  “ An  Industrial 
Mission,”  but  no  mission  bearing  that  name  ever 
rendered  more  real  service  in  this  direction.  Most  of 
the  missionaries,  knowing  well  how  to  use  their  hands 
themselves,  have  not  been  slow  to  teach  the  boys  and 
young  men  at  their  stations  to  do  the  same.  And 
just  as  many  of  the  natives  have  shown  remarkable 
aptitude  in  book  learning,  so  they  have  also  become 
expert  in  carpentry,  in  brick-making  and  building, 
in  printing  and  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  that 
when  a telegraphic  apparatus — the  gift  of  two  friends 
— was  set  up  at  Wathen  station,  one  of  the  boys  soon 
mastered  the  working  of  the  Morse  code.  Writing  to 
the  kind  donors,  Mr.  Bentley  said:  “The  apparatus  has 
been  set  up,  and  is  in  full  work.  My  two  colleagues, 
who  are  with  me  here,  are  both  able  to  use  it,  having 
been  used  to  such  work  when  in  England.  I am 
making  good  progress  myself,  and  some  of  the  senior 
boys  are  taking  lessons.”  The  governor-general  of 
the  State,  visiting  Wathen,  was  much  pleased  to 
inspect  this  the  first  telegraph  line  on  the  Congo. 
He  thought  it  a capital  idea.  When  the  Congo  Rail- 
way shall  be  completed,  telegraph  clerks,  remarks  Mr. 
Bentley,  will  be  needed,  and  some  of  the  boys  may 
find  good  openings. 

The  medical  knowledge  possessed  by  the  mission- 
aries is  a most  important  civilising  and  humanising 
influence.  Apart  from  the  unique  advantage  it  gives 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  73 

to  the  missionary  as  the  minister  of  healing  mercy, 
thus  winning  the  confidence  of  the  natives,  and  dis- 
posing them  to  listen  to  the  Gospel  message;  in  itself, 
the  practice  of  medical  skill  necessarily  undermines 
the  power  of  the  witch-doctor,  whose  terrible  influence 
over  the  people  is  as  evil  as  it  is  widespread.  Very 
often  in  their  journeyings  have  the  missionaries  come 
into  contact  with  the  “ medicine  man,”  their  hearts 
being  deeply  saddened,  and  their  righteous  indigna- 
tion aroused  by  the  awful  cruelties  they  have  witnessed. 
Mr.  Stapleton,  referring  to  the  fact  that  the  natives 
never  admit  that  sickness  comes  naturally,  but  is 
always  ascribed  to  the  occult  influence  of  witches, 
tells  of  a chief  who  was  brought  home  from  a trading 
expedition  very  sick,  and  carried  into  his  hut  to  die. 
Rumours  having  been  spread  about  that  he  was  being 
bewitched,  the  missionaries  went  to  see  him.  They 
found  a large  group  of  men  holding  solemn  debate, 
the  son  of  the  chief  presiding.  As  the  result,  it  was 
decided  that  five  people  must  take  the  “ Nkasa”  (the 
test  poison).  Two  days  after,  a man  and  a woman 
who  had  undergone  the  ordeal  were  said  to  be  dying. 
Instantly  Mr.  Stapleton  took  the  bottle  of  sulphate  of 
zinc,  while  Mr.  White  took  a jug  of  water,  and 
started  off  to  the  town.  On  arriving,  they  at  once 
heard  the  cry  of  mourning  women,  and  hastening  to 
the  hut  whence  the  cries  proceeded,  they  found  it 
full  of  howling  women  gathered  round  a dying  man. 
Entrance  into  the  hut  was  refused  them.  In  answer 
to  their  reiterated  cry,  “ Will  you  let  us  save  him  ? ” 
they  got  the  heartless  reply,  “ He  is  old  and  no  more 
good  ; let  him  die.”  Mr.  Grenfell,  who  had  followed, 
arriving  on  the  scene,  in  stirring  tones  told  the 
villainous  son  that  he  was  guilty  of  murder,  that  he 
had  rendered  himself  liable  to  death  at  the  hands  of 
the  State  authorities,  and  that  he  must  answer  to  God 
for  his  crime.  Mr.  Grenfell’s  vigorous  protest  was 
not  without  good  effect.  Though  the  woman,  the  old 
man’s  sister,  died  of  the  poison,  a further  effort  was 


74 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


made  to  reach  the  old  man  himself,  and  with  success. 
He  expressed  a wish  that  the  missionaries  should  do 
their  best  for  him.  God  blessed  the  means  that  were 
used,  and  the  man  recovered.  This  successful  treat- 
ment dealt  a heavy  blow  at  the  dreadful  “ Nkasa  ” 
custom.  The  late  Dr.  S.  R.  Webb,  the  qualified  medical 
missionary  of  the  Society,  was  hopeful  that  as  the 
people  came  to  know  more  of  the  use  of  medicines  as 
administered  by  the  Mission,  they  would  lose  their 
faith  in  witchcraft  and  in  magic. 

Another  horrible  custom  extensively  prevailing  is 
that  of  burying  the  living  with  the  dead.  The  greater 
the  position  of  the  chief  the  larger  the  number  of 
attendants  required  to  accompany  him  in  the  long 
last  journey.  The  sacrifice  of  human  life  caused  by 
this  superstition  is  revolting  in  the  extreme.  Take 
as  a specimen  the  instance  given  of  one  of  the  wives 
of  a comparatively  young  man  being  made  to  sit  in 
the  grave  and  support  the  corpse  on  her  knees,  then 
being  buried  alive  with  it,  and  this  after  the  heads  of 
four  unfortunate  individuals  had  been  cut  off,  and  all 
to  testify  respect  for  the  dead,  and  to  gratify  the 
public  taste  for  a spectacle. 

Earnest  efforts  are  continually  being  made  by  the 
missionaries  to  bring  this  abomination  to  an  end. 

The  picture  given  opposite  illustrates  a “ palaver  ” of 
Bolobo  chiefs  which  took  place  in  the  yard  of  the 
Mission  Station,  when  the  Commissiare  of  the  District, 
the  Free  State  authority  in  that  part,  was  also  present, 
to  consider  what  could  be  done  to  put  a stop  to  this 
cruel  burial  practice. 

The  late  Mr.  Michael  Richard  gives  a graphic 
account  of  a visit  he  paid  to  a town  where  a chief  had 
died  and  the  obsequies  were  about  to  be  observed  in 
the  usual  fiendish  manner.  Let  the  story  be  told  in 
his  own  words  : — 

“ I went  into  the  towns  not  knowing  what  had 
taken  place.  Everybody  was  preparing  for  some- 
thing great  by  either  eating  their  full,  decorating 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  75 

their  bodies,  adjusting  gaudy  pieces  of  European 
cloth,  or  ‘ trying  on  ’ hats  of  feathers,  etc.  ‘ My  friends, 
why  all  this  preparation  ? ’ I asked.  ‘ The  father  of 
Mbuma  Njokup  is  dead,  and  to-day  we  dance  and 
cry,’  I approached  this  chief’s  house  with  caution, 
knowing  the  people  think  white  men  are  witches. 

“ What  a sight ! the  like  of  which  I had  never 


ISOI.OIiO  CHIEFS  ASSEMIiLEI)  FOR  PALAVER. 


before  seen.  Women  yelling,  with  only  a few  leaves 
around  their  waist.  Some  rolling  in  the  dirt,  others 
sitting  around  an  artificial  arm-chair.  Many  had  put 
charcoal  on  their  faces  and  breasts,  over  which  a little 
water  had  been  sprinkled,  to  represent  tears.  The 
dead  man  was  seated  in  the  arm-chair— chalked  all 
over,  and  spotted  with  black,  yellow,  and  blue  ; on 
his  arms  long  brass  bracelets,  on  either  side  of  him  a 


;6 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


flintlock  gun,  on  his  head  a large  cap  of  feathers — 
leaning  back  a little,  like  a gentleman  at  ease  before 
his  drawing-room  fire.  The  women  asked  why  I had 
come.  I speedily  told  them.  They  were  pleased, 
and  invited  me  to  a seat.  Just  what  I was  waiting 
for,  and  I was  soon  on  the  piece  of  burned  stick. 
People  asked  if  we  white  men  could  give  medicine  to 
raise  the  dead.  ‘No;  but  we  can  give  medicine  to 
sick  folk  that  may  keep  them  from  dying,  and,  if  you 
wish  it,  I will  come  in  the  morning.’ 

“ The  chief  now  came  up,  but  he  was  too  busy  for 
many  words.  But  something  said  ‘ Speak  to  him.’ 
I waited  my  opportunity,  then  called  him  aside,  and 
asked  if  any  heads  were  going  to  be  cut  off.  We  had 
a short  conversation,  when  he  turned  to  the  mourners(?), 
repeating  what  I had  said.  Silently  the  people  looked 
at  me,  expecting  further  words ; and,  for  the  first 
time,  I addressed  the  people  of  Lukolela,  finishing 
by  asking  them  to  bury  the  dead  without  heads  being 
cut  off.  The  chief  replied:  ‘No  person  shall  be 
killed.  The  white  man’s  words  are  good.’  I looked 
at  two  women  lying  nearest  the  dead  man.  The 
chief  saw  my  eyes  fixed  upon  them,  and  said  : ‘ You 
need  not  look  at  them,  they  are  only  crying.  Have 
I not  said  no  one  shall  be  killed  ? Look  at  the 
people,  and  come  to-morrow ; you  will  then  see  if 
I tell  the  truth  or  not.’ 

“ Soon  after  this  dancing  began,  drums  were  beaten, 
and  from  every  town  came  crowds  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  clothed  with  skulls,  branches  of  trees, 
old  baskets,  fetishes,  etc.,  etc.  They  joined  together 
and  raced  about  like  mad  folk,  shaking  rattles, 
beating  drums,  waving  fetishes,  and  twisting  and 
turning  themselves  into  all  manner  of  shapes.  Every 
now  and  then  the  five  hundred  got  as  close  as  possible 
together,  and  sang  a song  lustily.  The  din  I leave 
you  to  imagine. 

“ I went  to  the  towns  the  next  morning  and 
doctored  fifteen  persons.  The  people  kept  their 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  77 


promise,  and  I have  certain  reason  to  know  ‘ no  per- 
son accompanied  the  dead  one  on  his  long  journey.’” 
Instances  might  be  multiplied  of  missionaries  inter- 
viewing chiefs  on  the  occasion  of  a death,  and  by 
their  influence  preventing  these  murders  being  com- 
mitted. And  as  through  their  teaching  a public 
sentiment  against  this  cruel  superstition  shall  be 


A SLAVE,  HANGALA  TRIBE. 


created,  it  will  become  eventually  as  much  a thing  of 
the  past  in  Congo  land,  as  child  drowning  or  widow 
burning  is  unknown  in  India  to-day. 

In  this  chapter  it  is  fitting  that  some  reference  should 
be  made  to  slavery — Africa’s  open  sore,  as  Livingstone 
described  it — the  source  of  so  much  untold  wrong  and 
woe.  In  any  consideration  of  this  great  question  the 
distinction  should  ever  be  borne  in  mind  between 


78 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


the  slave  trade  and  domestic  slavery  ; and  yet,  though 
the  former  is. far  more  oppressive  and  inhuman  than 
the  latter,  in  both  alike  there  is  the  disregard  of  the 
inalienable  right  of  man,  the  right  to  enjoy  personal 
liberty.  The  slave  is  not  permitted  to  look  upon  him- 
self as  in  any  sense  his  own  property  ; he  has  no 
right  of  po.ssession  in  his  own  wife,  or  children,  or 
goods.  Now  the  interest  of  the  Christian  missionary 
cannot  but  tell,  and  tell  powerfully,  against  even  the 
domestic  slavery.  The  example  of  his  own  home 
life  as  well  as  the  inculcation  of  the  principles  of  the 
Gospel,  must  necessarily  tend  to  bring  to  an  end  this 
ownership  of  human  beings. 

It  is,  however,  the  abominations  of  the  slave  trade, 
the  merchandise  in  human  flesh,  that  provoke  the 
deepest  indignation  and  command  the  most  deter- 
mined effort.  No  missionary  can  reside  long  in 
Africa  without  being  compelled  to  witness  slav- 
ery’s dreadful  ravages.  “ I have  seen,”  says  Mr. 
Grenfell,  “ thousands  of  poor  refugees  afloat  on  the 
river  in  their  canoes,  having  been  driven  from  their 
homes  by  ruthless  slave  raiders,  who  have  carried  off 
their  wives  and  children.  In  one  single  day  I counted 
as  many  as  twenty-seven  burning  villages  destroyed 
by  the  Arabs,  and  who  can  tell  the  sum  of  misery 
and  crime  such  a fact  involves  ? The  mere  thought 
of  it  weighs  our  hearts  down  to  the  ground.” 

It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  the  article  in  the 
General  Act  of  the  Berlin  Conference,  dealing  with 
the  slave  trade,  is  most  emphatic  on  its  prohibition. 
It  reads  as  follows  : “ In  conformity  with  the  principles 
of  the  right  of  nations  as  recognised  by  the  signatory 
Powers,  the  slave  trade  being  forbidden,  and  opera- 
tions which  on  land  or  sea  supply  slaves  for  the  trade 
being  equally  held  to  be  forbidden,  the  Powers  which 
exercise  or  will  exercise  rights  of  sovereignty  or 
influence  in  the  territories  forming  the  basin  of  the 
Congo,  declare  that  these  territories  shall  serve  neither 
for  the  place  of  sale  nor  the  way  of  transit  for  the  traffic 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  79 

in  slaves  of  any  race  whatsoever.  Each  of  the  Powers 
undertakes  to  employ  every  means  that  it  can  to  put 
an  end  to  the  trade,  and  to  punish  those  who  engage 
in  it.” 

It  is  very  certain  that  the  Congo  Mission,  as  other 
missions,  will  render  all  possible  service  to  give  effect 
to  this  most  important  declaration. 

In  the  early  part  of  1892,  the  Committee  of  the 
Society  received  a very  earnest  request  from  His 
Majesty,  King  Leopold,  that  Mr.  Grenfell  should  be 
permitted  to  undertake  certain  difficult  duties  in  con- 
nection with  the  delimitation  of  the  Southern  Frontier 
of  the  Free  State.  The  fact  of  this  request  being 
made  was  in  itself  a high  testimony  to  the  value  set 
upon  Mr.  Grenfell’s  judgment  and  abilities,but  in  grant- 
ing it  the  Committee  took  into  their  consideration 
the  bearing  which  the  undertaking,  if  successful, 
would  have  upon  the  slave  trade.  The  commis- 
sion was  one  of  great  delicacy,  but  the  missionary 
plenipotentiary  was  equal  to  the  position.  The  satis- 
factory terms  upon  which  the  delimitation  of  the 
boundary  was  settled,  secured  immense  benefit  to  a 
population  occupying  some  20,000  square  miles,  who 
hitherto  have  been  subject  to  raids  systematically 
carried  on  for  the  levying  of  blackmail  and  for  the 
capture  of  slaves.  The  duties  of  the  commission 
extended  over  a period  of  more  than  a year,  long  dis- 
tances having  to  be  traversed.  In  all  these  journey- 
ings  Mr.  Grenfell  was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Grenfell; 
over  a thousand  miles  had  to  be  accomplished  in  the 
mode  of  travelling  depicted  in  the  illustrations  given 
on  the  next  page.  But  whilst  the  commissioner 
successfully  fulfilled  his  difficult  task,  and  had  had 
opportunities  of  making  known  the  Gospel  in  regions 
where  no  missionary  had  ever  previously  been,  he  was 
thankful  when  his  duties  for  the  State  were  over,  and 
he  found  himself  once  more  at  his  mission  station, 
able  to  devote  all  his  time  and  energies  to  direct 
missionary  work. 


8o 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


It  may  be  stated  here  that  the  King  of  the  Belgians 
signified  his  approbation  of  the  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Grenfell  had  discharged  the  service  in  the  most  gra- 
cious and  commendatory  terms.  And  it  may  be  also 
stated  that  the  Mission  was  financially  compensated 
for  the  temporary  absence  of  their  missionary  from 
his  work. 


MRS.  GRENFELL  ON  JiULL-BACK. 


A further  most  valuable  service  the  Congo  Mission 
has  rendered  to  the  cause  of  civilisation,  consists  in 
important  geographical  discoveries.  When  so  excel- 
lent a steamer  as  the  Peace  for  navigating  the  Congo 
river  was  provided,  it  was  only  to  be  expected  that 
new  tributaries  and  new  territories  would  be  ex- 
plored. The  fact  that  in  making  the  acquaintance  of 


THE  REV.  GEORGE  GRENFELL — A .NEW  MODE  OF  TRAVELLING  ON  THE  CONGO. 


F 


82 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


the  Upper  Congo  region  and  in  prospecting  for  new 
mission  sites,  Mr.  Grenfell  was  in  command  of  the 
Peace,  was  certain  to  issue  in  results  especially  inter- 
esting to  members  of  geographical  societies.  As  far 
back  as  1 887  the  Peace  had  made  no  less  than  seven 
considerable  journeys,  traversing  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  5000  miles  at  that  time  known  to  be  navigable. 
During  these  journeys  some  doubtful  points  of  previ- 
ous travellers  were  cleared  up,  whilst  in  two  and  three 
cases  new  waterways  were  explored. 

But  the  discovery  which  will  ever  place  Mr.  Gren- 
fell amongst  the  great  African  explorers  is  that  of 
the  Mobangi  river. 

When  the  fact  of  this  discovery  was  announced  in 
England  in  July,  1885,  the  Times  newspaper  declared 
that  since  the  discovery  of  the  course  of  the  Congo 
itself  no  more  important  addition  had  been  made  to 
our  knowledge  of  the  hydrography  of  the  region  ; 
that  the  details  which  had  come  to  hand  showed 
what  an  admirable  piece  of  exploring  work  Mr.  Gren- 
fell had  done,  as  he  had  proved  that  the  Mobangi, 
which  enters  the  right  bank  of  the  Congo,  forming  a 
great  delta  between  26°  and  42°  S.  latitude,  nearly 
opposite  Equator  Station,  is  probably  its  greatest 
tributary ; that  the  river  banks  are  far  more  populous 
than  any  equal  length  of  the  Congo.  The  Times 
further  affirmed  that  the  commercial  importance  of 
Mr.  Grenfell’s  discovery  could  not  be  exaggerated, 
that  whether  the  Mobangi  be  the  Welle  or  not  it 
must  form  an  important  link  between  the  basin  of 
the  Congo  and  the  basins  of  the  Niger,  the  Shari,  and 
the  Nile. 

This  contribution  to  geographical  knowledge  being 
deemed  so  important,  the  account  of  the  discovery 
sent  to  the  Mission  House  will  be  of  sufficient  interest 
to  reproduce  in  these  pages.  Having  described  the 
previous  part  of  his  journey,  Mr.  Grenfell  writes  : — 

“ We  now  commenced  to  look  out  for  the  mouth  of 
the  Mobangi  river,  but  as  we  maintained  a course  of 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  83 

N.  by  E.  and  N.N.E.,  which  corresponded  with  that 
of  the  Congo,  we  thought  that  ‘ Mai  Mobangi  ’ was 
just  a name  given,  as  in  other  places,  to  a particular 
portion  of  the  main  stream,  and  that  we  were  still  on 
the  Congo  itself.  It  was  not  till  we  had  journeyed 
nearly  130  miles  up  the  Mobangi  that  we  made  sure 
of  its  independence.  Its  islands  were  so  numerous, 
and  the  points  of  the  mainland  (as  they  afterwards 
proved  themselves  to  be)  appeared,  as  we  caught 
glimpses  of  them  here  and  there  between  the  islands, 
so  much  like  the  heads  of  other  islands,  and  the 
course  was  so  nearly  identical  with  the  Congo,  that 
I did  not  determine  the  question  till  I was  farther 
north  than  the  point  (1°  10'  N.L.)  where  my  know- 
ledge of  the  right  bank  beyond  the  equator  com- 
menced. On  the  4th  November  the  sun’s  meridian 
altitude  put  us  in  1°  6'  N.,  and  we  then  knew  that  if 
we  were  on  the  Congo  we  should  reach  Lobengo  that 
afternoon  ; but,  as  no  Lobengo  came  in  sight,  we 
anchored  that  evening,  certain  of  being  on  the 
Mobangi. 

“ The  next  morning,  soon  after  we  started,  we  saw 
towns  to  the  eastward,  and  were  then  sure  we  saw 
the  opposite  bank,  and  determined  to  go  across, 
hoping  to  get  on  better  in  returning  on  that  side 
than  we  had  succeeded  in  doing  on  the  one  by  which 
we  had  ascended,  for  it  was  only  at  one  or  two  places 
that  we  had  been  able  to  open  communications  with 
the  people.  Our  approach  was  generally  the  signal 
for  a stampede.  Cooking-pots  were  left  simmering 
on  the  fire,  houses  all  open,  and  household  gear  all 
scattered  about ; and,  together  with  the  astonished 
goats  and  fowls,  at  our  mercy.  In  several  places 
little  children  were  left  behind  to  face  the  fate  the 
older  folk  all  feared.  In  other  places,  again,  the 
bolder  spirits  set  about  putting  their  stockades  in  a 
proper  state  of  defence  (all  the  towns  hereabouts  are 
fortified),  while  others  stood  behind  holding  their  own 
and  their  comrades’  weapons  and  shields.  At  one 


84 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


town  the  medicine- man  began  to  make  his  charms  to 
ward  off  the  expected  evil  by  tying  the  long  grass 
into  peculiar  knots ; and  as  we  steamed  slowly  on, 
trying  to  get  him  to  speak  (he  was  the  only  man  we 
saw  in  a large  town),  he  kept  just  ahead  of  us, 
dodging  behind  the  bushes  till  he  had  completed  his 
‘ bonganga  ’ (medicine)  defences  covering  the  whole 
river  frontage  of  the  town,  and  then  he  darted  off  to 
join  his  people,  and,  I ’ve  no  doubt,  to  make  a big 
dance  and  sing  his  own  praises  for  having,  single- 
handed,  warded  off  the  attack  of  the  white  men  and 
his  big  fiery  monster  whose  breath  was  as  the  beating 
of  war-drums. 

“ At  one  town  we  were  greeted  from  behind  the 
stockade  with  shouts  of  ‘ Bedimo  ! bedimo  ! ’ (spirits). 
But  although  one  of  their  countrymen  whom  we 
found  at  Lukolela,  and  brought  with  us,  assured  them 
that  we  were  not  spirits,  and  that  we  went  to  bed  and 
slept  like  ordinary  people  (of  course,  spirits  never 
sleep),  we  could  not  overcome  their  prejudice,  and, 
short  of  food  as  we  were,  had  to  go  empty  away.  It 
now  remained  to  see  if  the  people  on  the  left  bank 
were  more  tractable ; but  on  our  crossing  the  river 
and  approaching  the  first  town  the  people  all  fled. 
We  could  see  plenty  of  food  about,  and  as  it  was 
imperative  that  we  should  get  something  to  eat,  we 
were  not  prepared  to  give  up  our  quest  at  the  first 
rebuff.  Three  of  our  people  volunteered  to  go  ashore, 
and  try  to  talk  to  the  people,  who  evidently  had  not 
gone  far.  We,  therefore,  put  the  steamer  close  into 
the  beach  and  landed  our  ambassadors,  who  took  a 
good  supply  of  cloth,  beads,  and  brass  wire,  wherewith 
to  open  negotiations.  But  we  had  not  to  wait  long 
before  they  came  running  back,  retreating  before  an 
angry  crowd,  that  received  the  spokesman  with  a 
spear  thrust  which  he  marvellously  escaped.  This 
was  serious  for  hungry  folk,  but  we  were  not  yet 
willing  to  give  up,  so  steamed  off  a short  distance 
beyond  spear  throw,  and  waited  awhile,  thinking 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  85 

perhaps  when  the  people  returned  and  found  their 
cooking  pots  still  on  the  fire,  and  their  corn  and 
plantain  still  standing,  that  they  would  be  convinced 
of  our  good  intentions.  As  we  steamed  off  they 
came  slowly  to  the  beach,  and  we  took  the  oppor- 
tunity of  displaying  our  bells  and  looking-glasses,  and 
the  trinkets  the  natives  delight  in,  all  with  the  hope 
of  subduing  them  into  friendliness.  After  awhile, 
thinking  we  might  venture  again  to  make  overtures, 
we  turned  round  and  came  in  a little  closer ; but  the 
warriors  all  began  to  get  into  their  awkward,  sleeve- 
less jackets  of  elephant  and  buffalo  skin,  to  get 
behind  their  shields,  and  make  ready  their  bundles  of 
spears,  and  as  we  came  still  closer  they  got  up  a war 
dance,  and,  with  a terrible  yell,  made  a charge  as 
though  they  intended  to  come  through  the  water  to 
get  at  us.  It  was  evident  we  must  wait  yet  a little 
longer,  and  in  another  hour  or  so  we  tried  again  ; but, 
though  they  were  not  so  demonstrative  (they  only 
stood  ready,  and  did  not  dance  this  time),  we  felt  we 
could  not  do  more  than  just  steam  slowly  by,  that 
they  might  the  better  see  what  manner  of  people  we 
were. 

“ They  seemed  specially  impressed  by  the  presence 
of  my  wife  and  the  children,  and  seemed  to  say 
among  themselves:  ‘Not  only  are  there  no  signs  of 
war  about,  but  there  is  a woman,  and  there  are 
children,  and  nobody  takes  them  when  they  go  to 
fight’  A little  more  waiting,  and  another  slow 
approach,  and  we  managed  to  get  the  principal  man 
to  accept  a fathom  of  cloth  from  the  end  of  a long 
stick,  and  soon  afterwards  to  make  the  steamer  fast 
to  one  of  the  bushes  on  the  bank.  It  was  not  long 
before  they  were  quite  assured  of  our  harmlessness, 
and  we  were  able  to  buy  plantain  and  food  in 
abundance,  as  well  as  a few  of  the  curious  jackets, 
shields,  knives,  and  spears,  as  mementoes  of  the  four 
hours’  siege  we  maintained  and  the  capitulation  that 
followed.  The  people  in  this  part  of  the  river,  we 


86 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


learnt,  were  Baloi,  and  quite  distinct  in  appearance 
and  language  from  both  the  Bakke  and  Bayansi,  who 
monopolise  so  much  of  the  middle  Congo. 

“ Having  replenished  our  food  supplies,  we  were 
soon  away  down  river  again,  and  looking  out  for 
firewood.  So  much  of  the  other  bank  had  been 
under  water  that  we  had  been  in  great  straits  for  fuel, 
and  had  had  lots  of  tree  climbing  to  get  it ; happily, 
here  we  found  good  wood,  and  firm  ground  to  cut  it 
on,  and  were  soon  able  to  lay  in  a good  stock. 
Unfortunately,  when  we  came  to  get  up  anchor  we 
found  it  had  caught  in  a snag,  and,  after  a couple 
of  hours’  hard  work  in  trying  to  get  it  clear,  we  had 
at  last  to  cut  the  chain  and  leave  six  fathoms  of  it 
together  with  the  anchor  in  the  bed  of  the  river. 
This  was  a serious  loss,  and  liable  to  recur,  and 
though  we  had  spare  anchors  and  chain  on  board,  we 
were  sorry  to  lose  even  a portion  of  such  valuable 
gear.  The  next  day,  after  passing  some  suspicious 
people,  we  came  to  friendly  towns,  and  were  able  to 
lay  in  a stock  of  fresh  meat  and  fish  in  addition  to 
the  plantain,  which  had  cost  us  so  much  trouble  to 
get  the  day  before.” 

Before  re-entering  the  Congo  the  Peace  one  night 
came  into  contact  with  a large  floating  island.  Mr. 
Grenfell,  awaking  his  crew,  gave  orders  to  get  up 
steam,  and  endeavoured,  but  without  success,  to  push 
on  one  side  the  thousand  square  yards  of  grass  and 
herbage.  The  situation  was  critical.  The  men  landed 
on  the  island  with  their  hatchets  to  try  and  chop 
through  it,  but  in  vain  ; the  floating  mass  carried  the 
little  steamer  ever  onward.  The  hand-saws  were 
next  tried,  and  in  ten  minutes,  the  tough  roots  and 
stems  being  run  through,  the  Peace  was  set  free, 
having  been  dragged  along  some  two  miles.  After 
anchoring  in  a sheltered  spot,  the  Congo  was  reached 
the  next  morning  without  further  anxiety. 

Though  Mr.  Grenfell  knew  very  well  the  important 
bearing  of  his  discovery  upon  the  great  work  of  the 


SERVICES  OF  THE  MISSION  TO  CIVILISATION.  8/ 

Mission,  he  was  concerned  lest  the  supporters  of  the 
Society  at  home  should  think  that  “ too  much  fuss 
was  being  made  about  geography,  and  that  he  did 
not  write  enough  about  the  Gospel.”  He  comforted 
himself  by  the  remembrance  of  David  Livingstone’s 
memorable  words  : “ The  end  of  the  geographical  feat 
is  the  commencement  of  the  missionary  enterprise,” 
adding,  “ we  shall  soon  have  intelligent  knowledge  of 
what  is  really  before  us,  and  where  best  to  concen- 
trate our  main  efforts ; with  our  present  incomplete 
knowledge  only  of  the  vast  central  waterways  and 
the  populations  accessible  thereby,  we  might  make 
great  mistakes  as  to  procedure,  and  spend  much 
money  and  treasure  in  attacking  outposts  only,  while 
we  might  with  just  as  much  ease  operate  against 
important  and  strategic  centres.” 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES. 

rjAHAT  religious  communities,  consisting  of  indi- 
I viduals,  once  degraded,  lawless  savages,  but 
now  endeavouring  to  walk  according  to  the 
pure  and  gentle  principles  of  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ,  should  have  been  brought  into  existence 
in  Congo-land,  is  a strong  argument  for  the  super- 
natural origin  and  power  of  the  Christian  faith.  And 
that  such  communities  do  exist,  and  are  becoming 
stronger  in  numbers  and  in  influence,  is  a fact  full  of 
encouragement  and  promise. 

In  this  and  the  following  chapters  we  propose  to 
give  some  particulars  as  to  the  converts  of  whom 
these  churches  are  composed,  and  as  to  their  church 
life  and  work. 

The  first  church  connected  with  the  Congo  Mission 
was  formed  at 

San  Salvador, 

in  December,  1887.  Five  young  men  having  been 
baptised,  the  missionaries  who  were  then  at  the 
station — viz.,  Messrs.  Lewis,  Phillips,  and  Graham, 
had  the  joy  of  communing  at  the  Lord’s  Table  for 
88 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  89 

the  first  time  with  native  Christians  in  Congo.  After 
one  of  their  number  had  explained  the  principles 
upon  which  a Christian  Church  should  be  founded, 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship  was  duly  given,  and 
then  European  white  men,  together  with  their  black 
African  brothers,  commemorated  the  dying  love  of 
their  common  Lord  and  Saviour.  The  following 
Sabbath  a Sunday  school  was  started ; a day  school 
for  boys,  and  Mrs.  Lewis’s  school  for  girls  being 
already  in  existence.  Two  months  later  Mr.  Lewis 
reported  three  more  baptisms,  and  that  the  work  was 
growing  more  and  more  interesting  and  encouraging. 
No  excitement  or  extraordinary  conversions,  but  a 
quiet,  deep  and  increasing  interest  in  spiritual  matters. 

Knowing  the  tendency  of  Africans  to  act  together 
in  numbers,  being  influenced  very  much  by  one 
another,  the  missionaries  felt  the  necessity  of  exer- 
cising great  care  to  test  the  genuineness  of  their 
professions  before  admitting  them  into  membership. 
And  so,  from  time  to  time,  down  to  the  present,  the 
little  San  Salvador  Church  has  been  increasing — slowly 
it  may  be  thought,  but  this  owing  to  unwillingness  to 
baptise  before  full  proof  of  change  of  heart  has  been 
given — until  exclusive  of  those  who  have  removed  or 
have  died,  some  sixty-eight  converts  are  now  in  actual 
fellowship. 

During  the  residence  of  Mr.  Weeks  at  the  station, 
and  just  previous  to  the  formation  of  the  Church,  a 
chapel  capable  of  holding  between  four  and  five 
hundred  people  was  erected,  the  walls  being  made  of 
bamboo  palm  ribs  nailed  perpendicularly  on  a wooden 
frame,  the  roof  being  also  of  bamboos  and  thatched 
with  grass.  The  picture  on  page  90  shows  the  chapel 
with  a group  in  front  representing  some  of  the  boys 
and  girls  belonging  to  the  San  Salvador  schools.  For 
a view  of  the  interior  of  the  chapel  see  illustration, 
page  45. 

The  Bible-class  held  during  the  week  is  an  import- 
ant institution,  the  simple  teaching  given  in  the 


90 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Scripture  being  specially  required.  What  with  ser- 
vices, prayer  meetings,  and  teaching,  the  time  of  the 
missionaries  and  that  of  their  native  Christian  helpers 
is  fully  occupied. 

In  a further  chapter  reference  will  be  made  to  the 
evangelistic  efforts  of  the  San  Salvador  Christians  in 
their  surrounding  districts. 

Amongst  the  members  of  the  Church  at  this  station 


SO.ME  liOYS  AND  GIRLS  OF  THE  SAN  SALVADOR  SCHOOLS. 


particular  mention  may  be  made  of  Don  Miguel,  a 
blacksmith,  the  ring  of  whose  hammer,  as  he  worked 
in  his  forge,  might  be  heard  all  day  long,  his  trade 
being  mainly  in  agricultural  hoes.  This  man  was 
amongst  the  earliest  to  welcome  the  white  men  to 
San  Salvador,  and  was  always  friendly  disposed.  His 
knowledge  of  Portuguese,  in  which  language  he  would 
come  and  chat  in  the  evenings,  was  of  great  service. 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES. 


91 


Miguel’s  simple  and  earnest  faith  in  Christ  was  a 
great  joy  to  the  missionaries,  and  a fine  example  to 
his  fellow-townsmen.  Some  five  years  ago  he  fell  a 
victim  to  the  “ sleep  sickness  ” so  terribly  common  in 
Western  Africa.  The  Church  deeply  mourned  his 
loss,  for  by  his  real,  earnest  piety  he  was  indeed  a 
power  for  good. 

Matoka,  whom  Mr.  Comber  engaged  as  his  Portu- 
guese interpreter  on  his  first  visit  to  San  Salvador, 
and  who  proved  particularly  helpful  because  of  the 
willingness  of  his  disposition,  may  also  be  named. 
He,  as  well  as  Don  Miguel,  was  one  of  the  first  five 
converts  of  whom  the  Church  was  formed.  Much 
satisfaction  has  been  and  is  still  felt  in  the  consistency 
of  Matoka’s  Christian  character.  And  so  with  respect 
to  others  the  same  kind  of  testimony  might  be  borne. 
The  Gospel  as  preached  by  the  messengers  of  the 
Cross  has  indeed  proved  itself  to  be  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation. 

What  cause  for  thankfulness  exists  may  be  .seen  in 
the  following  report  of  the  death  of  one  of  the  San 
Salvador  native  converts.  “ We  have  recently,”  writes 
Mr.  Phillips,  “lost  one  of  our  members  by  death. 
Her  last  hours  were  exceedingly  peaceful,  and  she 
left  a very  decided  testimony  behind  her. 

“I  baptised  Nzumba  in  May,  1888.  At  the  time 
of  her  baptism  we  noticed  how  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
she  was,  rather  a contrast  to  the  self-assertion  of  many 
of  the  women.  These  characteristics  have  marked 
her  life  ever  since.  About  three  weeks  ago  she  was 
taken  ill,  and,  during  her  illness,  suffered  a great  deal 
with  severe  ulceration  of  the  throat.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  last  week  it  became  evident  that  she  was 
passing  away,  and  the  women  of  the  town  gathered 
round  to  show  their  sympathy.  Mrs.  Graham  and 
Mrs.  Phillips  went  in  to  see  her  day  after  day,  and  she 
was  able  to  converse  with  them  intelligently.  Two 
days  before  she  died  she  told  those  around  her  that 
she  knew  she  was  dying,  and  then  divided  her  little 


92 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


possessions  among  her  various  friends  ; after  she  had 
done  this  she  turned  to  all  the  women  who  were 
sitting  around,  and  said  : — ‘ Now  I have  done  with  all 
these  things,  everything  is  settled,  and  I am  just  ready 
and  waiting  to  die.  I am  not  afraid,  because  Jesus  is 
my  Saviour  and  my  only  hope,  and  He  is  soon  com- 
ing to  take  me  to  be  with  Him  in  Heaven.’  This 
little  incident  happened  when  none  of  us  were  there, 
and  what  she  said  was  quite  spontaneous  on  her 
part ; we  did  not  hear  of  it  until  the  next  day. 

“ The  day  before  she  died  Mrs.  Graham  and  Mrs. 
Phillips  saw  her,  and  again,  at  their  request,  she  told 
those  round  her  how  she  was  not  afraid  to  die,  and 
urged  them  to  prepare  for  the  time  when  they  would 
have  to  leave  this  world.  When  she  had  finLshed,  she 
turned  to  Nlekai,  who  was  standing  by,  and  said, 
‘ Pray  for  me  and  for  all  these ; ’ and  there,  in  the 
native  hut,  kneeling  round  the  dying  one,  earnest 
prayer  was  offered  that  she  might  be  strengthened, 
and  her  words  might  be  blessed  to  those  around.  It 
was  such  a touching  scene  that  all  present  were 
unable  to  refrain  from  weeping.  Again  is  it  true, 
‘ she  being  dead  yet  speaketh,’  for  in  two  instances,  at 
any  rate,  concern  was  aroused  by  these  things.  A 
definite  and  clear  testimony  like  this  is  all  the  more 
important  when  we  remember  how  the  natives  dread 
death,  and  never  think  or  speak  of  it,  however  bad 
they  may  be,  but  always  persuade  themselves  they 
will  get  better.  Our  Congo  Mission  a failure  ? Do 
our  beloved  brethren.  Comber  and  Hartland,  our 
noble  pioneers,  think  so  as  they  welcome  these  first- 
fruits  in  the  better  land  ? Verily,  no,  but  there  is 
rejoicing  as  these  sheaves  are  gathered  in.” 

Coming  now  to  the  stations  on  the  river,  and  taking 
them  in  their  geographical  order,  we  shall  first  refer  to 

Underhill  or  Tunduwa 

(see  frontispiece).  This  is  the  base  station  for  the 
whole  Mission.  Here  the  supplies  for  up  country  are 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  93 

received  and  duly  despatched,  this  transport  business 
being  very  arduous  and  responsible.  Mr.  J.  Lawson 
Forfeitt,  who  has  been  ably  assisted  by  Mr.  Pinnock 
and  Mr.  Pople,  is  the  missionary  in  charge,  and  acts  as 
local  secretary.  Whilst  the  site  of  this  particular 
station  had  of  course  to  be  determined  by  its  suita- 
bility as  a base  of  operations,  and  the  time  of  the 
missionaries  located  there  must  necessarily  be  given  to 
the  business  duties  of  the  Mission,  yet  not  a little  real 
spiritual  work  has  been  effected.  The  resident  popula- 
tion being  sparse,  the  services  on  the  Sunday  and  week 
days  are  largely  for  the  sake  of  carriers  engaged  in 
transport  work,  and  for  workmen  belonging  to  trading 
factories.  The  preaching  of  the  Gospel  at  Underhill 
has  not  been  in  vain  ; occasional  baptisms  have 
gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  missionaries,  and  a small 
Christian  community  is  now  in  existence.  A night 
school  has  also  for  some  time  been  doing  good  service. 
The  “Edwin  Wade”  Printing  Press  has  recently  been 
transferred  to  San  Salvador,  and  is  now  placed  under 
the  care  of  Mr.  Phillips.  We  must  not  forget  here  to 
state  that  at  Underhill  opportunities  are  frequently 
occurring  for  showing  kindness  and  hospitality  to 
missionaries  generally,  as  well  as  to  others  en  route  up 
river  or  returning  to  the  coast  from  the  interior. 

About  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  higher  up  the 
Congo  than  Underhill  is 

Wathen  or  Ngombi. 

In  the  early  period  of  the  Mission  this  second  station 
was  fixed  at  Manyanga,  but  in  1884  was  transferred  to 
Ngombi.  The  illustration  on  page  95  shows  the 
ground  plan  of  the  station.  The  mission  house  was 
erected  in  1888,  and  was  a great  improvement  upon 
the  earlier  house,  which  consisted  of  clay  walls  and 
thatched  roof.  The  new  house  was,  for  sanitary 
reasons,  built  of  bricks,  made  by  the  natives  them- 
selves. It  affords  considerable  accommodation,  and  is 
well  protected  from  the  winds  by  a verandah  and  a belt 


94 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


of  trees.  In  addition  there  are  various  out-buildings, 
and  the  Wathen  School-house,  described  on  page  58. 

On  New  Year’s  Day,  1889,  seven  native  converts 
formed  themselves  into  a Christian  Church.  The 
population  immediately  around  the  station  is  scanty. 
The  hope  for  the  future  lies  mainly  in  the  large 
number  of  boys  who  come  to  the  station  from  the 
district  around,  many  of  whom  show  signs  of  a change 
of  heart.  An  early  service  is  held  every  day  for  the 
workmen  who  may  be  about,  and  for  traders  and 
others  who  may  be  passing  through  the  place. 

It  was  at  Wathen  that  Nlemvo,  Mr.  Bentley’s  boy, 
professed  his  faith  in  Christ.  Much  interest  attaches 
to  the  conversion,  Christian  character,  and  usefulness 
of  this  Congo  native.  In  the  first  instance  he  was 
brought  by  an  uncle  to  be  taught  in  the  San  Salvador 
School ; afterwards  he  became  Mr.  Bentley’s  attend- 
ant. He  was,  as  we  have  seen,  of  great  use  in  the 
completion  of  the  dictionary  and  grammar,  and  sub- 
sequently in  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament. 
In  the  early  part  of  1888,  Nlemvo  was  married  to 
Kalombo,  an  event  of  considerable  interest,  inasmuch 
as  it  was  the  first  marriage  between  Congo  Christians. 
According  to  the  report  of  the  incident,  the  place 
where  the  ceremony  was  celebrated  was  decorated 
with  flags  and  palm  branches ; two  gentlemen  from 
the  State  were  present,  and  a crowd  of  other  people. 
Kalombo  wore  a white  dress,  and  Nlemvo  a singlet 
and  a handsome  cloth  with  a leopard  cat’s  skin  as  a 
kilt,  in  the  finest  Congo  style.  Great  wonder  was 
excited  as  to  what  a Christian  wedding  would  be  like. 
It  seemed  strange  to  many  that  the  man  should  vow 
to  love  and  care  for  the  woman.  “ Why  that,”  they 
said,  “ is  what  the  wife  should  do  for  the  husband.” 
It  was  felt  that  the  example  of  two  young  native  con- 
verts living  together  in  holy  wedlock,  loving  each 
other,  and  seeking  to  be  fellow  heirs  of  the  grace  of 
life  would  prove  a powerful  influence  upon  the  heathen 
mind.  And  as  other  weddings  were  to  follow,  much 


95 


96 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


importance  naturally  attached  to  this  first  Congo 
marriage. 

In  less  than  a year  after  this  event,  Nlemvo  heard 
of  the  death  of  his  uncle,  in  consequence  of  which  he 
was  entitled  to  become  the  chief  of  his  town.  But 
the  young  Christian  knew  very  well  that  if  he  were  to 
accept  the  position,  the  observance  of  various  customs 
would  be  expected  of  him.  These  he  could  not 
conscientiously  observe,  and  rather  than  do  so,  he 
would  forego  the  chieftainship.  And  this  he  bravely 
and  nobly  did.  For  years  now  he  has  maintained  a 
truly  consistent  character,  and  hereafter  we  shall  refer 
to  his  earnest  endeavours  to  make  known  the  Gospel 
he  has  himself  received,  and  according  to  which  he  is 
prayerfully  seeking  to  live. 

Of  several  others  who  have  been  baptised  upon  a 
profession  of  their  repentance  towards  God  and  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  might  give  interesting 
particulars.  Mr.  Davies  and  Mr.  Cameron  with  Mr. 
Bentley  find  no  little  cause  for  encouragement.  A 
recent  report  from  one  of  the  missionaries  says  : — 
I feel  very  hopeful  as  to  a large  number  of  people, 
of  a good  many  of  our  scholars  and  some  of  our  work 
people  and  town  people,  but  am  afraid  of  saying  what 
might  perhaps  produce  an  exaggerated  impression  at 
home.  We  have  abundant  reason  to  thank  God  and 
take  courage.”  Thirty-three  are  now  in  the  member- 
ship of  this  Church. 

The  next  station  is 

Arthington  or  Nshasha, 

about  eighty  miles  beyond  Wathen,  and  near  to  the 
Pool  above  the  cataracts,  the  point  where  the  river 
enters  upon  its  long  reach  of  navigable  waterway. 

As  at  Underhill  so  here,  much  time  is  necessarily 
occupied  with  the  up-river  transport,  forwarding  by 
the  steamers  the  supplies  which  have  come  up  by  the 
land  journeys.  It  was  toward  the  end  of  1886  that 
this  station  was  established,  having  been  removed 


VILLAGE  OF-NSHASHA. 


97 


G 


98 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


from  a less  convenient  site.  Just,  however,  before  the 
removal,  a heavy  loss  was  inflicted  upon  the  Mission 
by  the  outbreak  of  a terrible  fire,  consuming  most  of 
the  buildings,  which  contained  very  valuable  stores 
for  the  new  up-river  stations.  The  loss  was  estimated 
at  no  less  than  ;^'40O0,  but  such  was  the  splendid  and 
spontaneous  generosity  of  the  friends  of  the  Mission, 
that  in  a short  time  the  whole  of  this  sum  was  contri- 
buted to  repair  as  far  as  was  possible  this  very  serious 
disaster. 

On  the  removal  of  the  station  to  Nshasha,  much 
time  had  to  be  given  to  the  erection  of  the  new  build- 
ings, and  the  transport  of  stores,  but  the  missionaries 
had  many  Gospel  talks  with  the  natives,  and  were 
enabled  to  begin  daily  services,  as  well  as  regular 
teaching  in  the  school.  The  work  was,  however, 
unfortunately  hindered  by  the  migration  of  the  people 
away  from  Nshasha  to  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  in 
consequence  of  some  State  troubles  that  arose.  In 
time  they  returned,  and  in  1892  Mr.  Gordon  reported 
a good  work  of  grace  amongst  the  boys.  Still  the 
progress  was  slow,  but  at  length  Mr.  Roger  was  able 
to  write  as  under  ; — 

“ It  is  a great  joy  to  me  to  report  to  you  our  first 
baptism  here  at  Stanley  Pool  for  the  last  five  years  ; 
it  has  cheered  our  hearts  in  the  work,  and  we  are 
hoping  that  more  will  soon  follow.  It  was  on  the 
third  Sunday  in  April  that  we  all  gathered  to  the 
water’s  edge,  and,  in  the  presence  of  all  our  boys  and 
workpeople,  Mr.  Gordon  baptised  two  of  our  school 
boys.  It  was  a most  impressive  service,  and  we  all 
felt  it  to  be  a very  solemn  time ; the  boys  spoke  out 
so  boldly  to  the  others  of  their  love  to  Christ  and  the 
longing  desire  they  have  had  to  follow  Him.  We 
know  there  are  several  others  who  have  lately  given 
their  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  trust  soon  to  have  the  joy  of 
welcoming  them  into  the  Church.  On  the  Sunday 
evening,  we  all  gathered  around  the  Lord’s  Table,  and 
after  I had  given  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  99 

two  who  had  been  baptised,  Nkendi  and  Zikubaka, 
they  for  the  first  time  joined  us  in  partaking  of  that 
sacred  ordinance.  I am  sure  we  all  felt  refreshed  after 
this  most  sacred  service.”  Four  other  boys  have 
recently  been  baptised,  and  a Christian  Church  has 
been  formed. 

This  station  has  recently  been  visited  by  the 
governor  of  the  Congo  Free  State,  who  seemed  very 
pleased  at  the  work  which  was  being  done,  and  was 
greatly  astonished  that  the  buildings  should  have 
been  put  up  by  the  native  boys.  He  was  kind 
enough  to  examine  the  school  children,  and  when 
one  of  them  read  to  him  out  of  Lusansu  Lu  Nkand 
’A  Nzambi,  the  highest  class-book  in  use,  he  patted 
him  on  the  head,  saying,  “Well  done;  as  good  as  a 
white  boy.” 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHE.S — {continued). 

IN  accordance  with  the  original  purpose  of  the 
Society,  stations  have  been  founded  on  the 
upper  reaches  of  the  Congo — as  far  as  oppor- 
tunity and  means  have  allowed. 

The  first  station  above  the  Pool,  some  two  hundred 
miles  beyond  is 

BOLOBO. 

Though  prospected  earlier,  it  was  founded  in  1888.  In 
the  course  of  a few  weeks  a small  grass  house  and  a 
mat-covered  building,  serving  as  a school-house,  were 
constructed.  At  the  very  first  service  that  was  held, 
besides  the  workpeople  and  the  crew  of  the  Peace, 
some  eighty  natives  were  present.  This  station  is 
planted  in  the  midst  of  a large  population.  I'or  five 
miles  there  is  a continuous  scries  of  houses,  whilst 
with  intervals  for  more  than  twenty  miles  there 
are  towns  densely  Inhabited,  affording  a splendid 
sphere  for  missionary  labour.  Feeling  the  great 
importance,  for  health  reasons,  that  proper  accommo- 
dation should  be  provided  for  those  resident  at  the 
100 


1 


S.S.  “ PEACE  ON  THE  SLIP  IN  FRONT  OK  WORKSHOP,  BOLOBO  STATION 


101 


102 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


station,  Mr.  Grenfell,  with  the  help  of  a young  man 
from  the  coast,  set  himself  to  build  a suitable  dwell- 
ing-house, a fire-proof  iron  store,  and  a further  house 
for  Miss  Silvey’s  use. 

In  1890  Mr.  Grenfell  was  able  to  report  a small  band 
of  eight  consistent  believers.  The  accommodation 
proving  too  limited  to  hold  those  who  came  to  hear 
the  Gospel,  a larger  building  had  to  be  erected.  The 
little  church  was  in  time  gladdened  by  the  addition 
of  several  converts,  as  many  as  twenty-seven  young 
people,  three  of  them  the  sons  of  a chief,  being 
received  into  fellowship.  Well  might  Mr.  Glennie 
write,  “ From  the  enthusiasm  manifested  by  these 
converts  we  have  formed  a happy  augury  of  the 
future  of  the  work.” 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1893,  Mr.  Kirkland,  a 
new  missionary,  reached  Bolobo.  Giving  an  account 
of  his  first  Sunday,  he  wrote : — “ In  the  forenoon  we 
had  a service  in  the  school,  and  in  the  afternoon  Mr. 
Darby  had  a Bible-class  in  his  house,  and  a number 
of  the  English-speaking  boys  came  together  to  study 
the  second  chapter  of  Luke’s  Gospel.  Evening  we 
had  a splendid  open-air  service  in  one  of  the  towns 
close  by  the  station.  Mr.  Darby  was  preacher,  and 
had  an  audience  of  over  two  hundred  people,  who 
gave  wonderful  attention  to  his  message,  and  we  hope 
the  seed  thus  sown  will  spring  up  and  bear  fruit.” 
Later  intelligence  reports  further  baptisms  and  more 
inquirers  seeking  religious  instruction. 

It  should  be  here  mentioned  that  Bolobo  has  been 
selected  as  the  most  convenient  spot  for  a dockyard 
to  the  Mission,  where  needful  repairs  can  be  effected. 
Workshops  have  consequently  been  erected,  in  which 
is  used  the  lathe  supplied  by  friends  in  Birmingham, 
the  working  of  which  greatly  astonishes  the  natives. 
The  new  steamer  Goodwill,  referred  to  in  the  follow- 
ing chapter,  has  been  reconstructed  and  duly  launched 
at  this  station. 

About  one  hundred  miles  beyond  Bolobo  is 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  103 


Liverpool  or  Lukolela 

station,  which  came  into  actual  existence  in  Novem- 
ber, 1886,  being  called  Liverpool  on  account  of 
contributions  raised  in  that  city.  The  up-river 
extension  having  been  long  delayed,  owing  to 
many  difficulties  and  trials,  it  was,  therefore,  with 
much  satisfaction  and  keen  zest  the  missionaries  at 
length  entered  this  new  district.  Messrs.  Biggs, 
Richards,  and  Whitely,  who  had  come  up  by  the 
Peace,  interviewed  the  chief,  who  showed  a most 
cordial  spirit,  inviting  them  to  settle  in  his  town  and 
promising  to  help  all  he  could.  He  willingly  sold 
two  native  huts,  which  were  re-erected  upon  a cleared 
plot  of  ground.  The  people  were  very  friendly  dis- 
posed. In  a few  days  the  Peace  left  with  Mr.  Whitely 
and  Mr.  Charters,  who  had  charge  of  the  steamer,  on 
board ; Mr.  Biggs  and  Mr.  Richards  remaining  to 
occupy  the  station.  Before  separating,  the  four 
brethren  held  a prayer  meeting  in  the  cabin  of  the 
little  steamer,  when  a blessing  was  earnestly  sought 
upon  the  new  undertaking,  Mr.  Biggs  adding  the 
following  postscript  to  a letter  he  had  written  giving 
the  above  particulars  : — Peace  going  early  to-morrow 
morning ; Richards  and  I comfortably  housed  in  a 
native  hut,  rather  crowded,  but  happy  in  spite  of  the 
hardship.  We  are  both  in  excellent  health,  and  are 
working  hard  with  shovel,  axe,  and  saw.” 

Mr.  Bentley  visiting  the  station  some  months  after- 
wards reported  as  under : — “ It  was  a great  pleasure 
to  find  things  progressing  well.  The  buildings  were 
as  forward  as  could  be  expected,  for  only  a few  work- 
men were  available,  and  they  had  not  enough  barter 
stuff  to  feed  or  pay  native  labourers  until  we  arrived. 
A dense  forest  surrounds  the  station,  and  the  felling 
and  clearing  away  of  a sufficient  number  of  trees  to 
render  it  safe  to  live  in  the  house  has  taken  much 
time  and  energy  ; and  even  now  some  twenty  tall 
trees  must  come  down  before  they  can  be  sure  that 


104 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


nothing  could  fall  on  them  during  the  wild  tornadoes 
which  are  so  common.  A second  and  larger  house 
was  nearly  finished  ; but  most  satisfactory  of  all  were 
the  relations  with  the  people.  The  medical  work, 
and  the  intimacy  due  to  frequent  visits  to  the  towns, 
have  won  the  esteem  of  the  people.  They  begin  to 
understand  our  work  better.  Good  progress  has  been 
made  in  the  language,  and  already  our  brethren 
learn,  talk,  and  understand  with  fair  ease.  With 
such  progress  as  this,  and  well-filled  stores,  we  can 
now  reckon  Liverpool  Station  to  be  fairly  established.” 

In  the  autumn  of  1889,  Mr.  Clarke  and  Mr.  Scrivener 
became  the  resident  missionaries.  Some  six  months 
afterwards  the  latter  wrote : — “ I wish  I could  send 
you  statistics  of  church  membership,  but  we  have  no 
converts  yet.  Now  is  the  time  for  ploughing  and 
sowing — ’by-and-by  the  harvest  and  the  time  of 
reaping.  O,  that  we  may  be  privileged  to  help  to 
bring  in  the  sheaves  ! God  will  give  the  increase.” 
God  honoured  the  confidence  of  His  servants  and 
rewarded  their  prayerful  toil ; for  on  the  first  Sunday 
in  1892  a Christian  Church  was  planted,  six  converts 
being  baptised.  A crowd  of  natives  gathered  to 
witness  the  observance  of  the  rite.  The  Lord’s  Supper 
followed,  “when  again,”  says  Mr.  Scrivener,  “we  real- 
ised God’s  blessing  and  presence.”  All  through  the 
day  they  were  wondrously  helped.  Nothing  occurred 
to  mar  any  of  the  proceedings,  some  of  which  were  so 
strange  to  the  poor  benighted  folk  there.  One  of 
the  boys  baptised  was  Mr.  Richard’s  boy  ; another,  a 
lad  ransomed  from  slavery,  having  changed  owners 
some  ten  or  twelve  times ; whilst  others  were  slaves 
of  men  in  a town  close  by.  The  work  has  since  been 
slowly  but  surely  progressing,  several  having  become 
thoughtful,  and  Mr.  Whitehead  speaks  of  the  school 
as  doing  well,  and  anticipates  great  things  from  the 
attention  that  is  paid  to  the  instruction  given  upon 
spiritual  subjects. 

Before  proceeding,  it  may  be  noted  that  a small 


MISSION  STATION  AT  LUKOLELA  ON  THE  UTTER  CONGO  RIVER. 


105 


io6 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


paper,  entitled  “ Fraternal  Notes,”  has  been  published 
at  Lukolela,  which  is  circulated  amongst  the  mission- 
aries of  the  different  societies  especially  with  a view 
to  promote  unity  in  method. 

Monsembi 

station  is  two  hundred  miles  farther  up  the  river 
than  Lukolela.  It  was  prospected  in  July,  1890, 
by  Mr.  Weeks  and  Mr.  Stapleton.  The  account 
given  by  the  former  of  their  journey  brings  .so 
graphically  before  the  mind  what  searching  for  a site 
may  mean  that  we  quote  at  some  length.  “ The  first 
place  we  stopped  at  the  people  ran  away  and  left  us 
an  empty  town.  We  went  ashore,  and  called  to  the 
natives  to  sell  us  some  fowls,  but  they  would  not 
come  near.  They  said  if  the  white  men  stay  behind 
they  would  sell  fowls  to  the  boys.  We  did  so,  and 
after  a few  minutes,  hearing  who  we  were  and  what 
we  came  for,  they  were  very  friendly  and  wanted  us 
to  settle  in  their  town,  and  were  quite  rejoiced  to  find 
we  had  not  come  to  fight,  as  they  did  not  want  to. 
We  had  no  trouble  in  getting  two  men  from  there  to 
go  to  see  other  places,  so  that  we  might  have  less 
trouble  with  the  people.  We  quietly  entered  and 
walked  through  several  other  towns,  and  were  much 
amused  at  the  reception  we  had  from  the  people,  and 
partly  fixed  upon  a site  in  the  Bundundu  district  ; 
but  we  are  going  to  see  if  we  can  find  a better.  We 
came  upon  one  large  town  and  wanted  to  go  ashore, 
but  directly  we  stopped  the  women  scouted  and  the 
men  put  themselves  in  fighting  posture,  and  gave  us 
distinctly  to  understand  that  we  should  not  land 
without  a spear  or  two  at  us.  We  sent  the  two  men 
from  a neighbouring  town  ashore  to  ask  them  to  let 
us  land,  but  they  threatened  to  kill  them.  So  we 
thought  it  best  to  get  away.  We  went  to  another  set 
of  towns  and  then  on  to  Bangala  State  Station  for  a 
permit  to  build.  After  leaving  Bangala  we  thought 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  IO7 

it  better  to  go  on,  so  we  went  as  far  as  the  river  Luika, 
which  is  about  900  miles  from  the  Pool. 

“ We  started  on  the  8th  of  August  on  our  return 
journey  down  river.  I have  not  yet  seen  signs  of 
the  vast  population  of  the  Upper  River.  I believe 
there  are  millions  of  people,  but  all  you  can  see  of 


FIRST  MISSIOiN  HOUSIi  AT  MONSKMHI  STATION,  UlT’EK  CONOO  RIVER. 


them  are  the  towns  indicating  their  presence  along  the 
river  banks.  What  we  shall  have  to  do  is  to  get  as 
large  a sphere  as  we  can  for  work  on  the  river,  and 
in  years  to  come  work  back  to  the  people  in  the 
interior  where  the  vast  population  is.  The  river 
scenery  up  here  is  much  more  beautiful  and  tropical 


io8 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


than  it  is  below.  The  banks  are  alive  with  the  notes 
of  a thousand  birds  and  insects,  and  the  river  is  full 
of  fish  and  reptiles.  In  every  town  we  landed  we 
caused  a considerable  amount  of  excitement.  The 
people  were  not  sure  whether  we  had  come  to  fight  or 
not,  so  they  always  got  ready  for  us.  We  landed 
with  our  walking  sticks  only,  chatted  with  the  people, 
bought  fowls  with  empty  bottles,  brass  wire,  and  tin 
plates ; and,  in  a very  little  time  we  were  all  friends. 
In  these  towns  no  women  or  children  were  to  be 
seen,  only  men  with  ugly-looking  knives,  long  spears, 
bows  and  arrows  ready ; in  some  places  they  all  ran 
away  with  the  exception  of  a few  men,  perhaps  too 
old  or  too  sick  to  run.  It  was  amusing  to  hear  these 
braves  (?)  laugh  and  jeer  those  who  had  gone.  We 
have  decided  to  settle  in  the  Monsembi  district,  at 
a town  called  Boguidu ; it  is  sixty  miles  above 
Lulanga  on  the  north  side  of  the  Congo  river.  It  is 
the  centre  of  a populous  set  of  towns  at  the  mouth  of 
a large  creek  that  runs  into  the  Mobangi.  The  creek 
is  lined  with  towns.  The  people  are  Bangalas,  one  of 
the  most  energetic  and  progressive  tribes  on  the  river, 
and  in  learning  their  language  we  shall  have  a great 
area  opened  up  to  us.  In  a year  or  two  we  shall  need 
a boat,  but  for  the  present  we  can  do  all  we  shall 
have  time  to  do  in  a canoe.” 

The  missionaries  soon  found  they  had  settled  down 
amongst  veritable  cannibals.  They  had  abundant 
and  most  horrible  evidence  that  it  was  common 
custom  for  the  Bangala  to  feast  upon  the  flesh  of 
those  whom  they  might  capture  in  their  petty  wars. 
When  impelled  by  the  lust  of  blood  they  found  that 
there  was  no  cruelty  too  shocking  for  them  to  perpe- 
trate ; and  yet  they  estimated  them  to  be  the  finest 
people  on  the  river — athletic,  intelligent,  manly,  ener- 
getic and  fearless  to  a degree — inspiring  the  hope  that 
when  subdued  and  conquered  by  the  power  of  Divine 
grace  the  Bangala  converts  would  become  fit  instru- 
ments for  the  evangelisation  of  their  numerous  tribes. 


VIEW  OK  THE  Ul'l'ER  CONGO  FROM  BOl’OTO  STATION. 


109 


1 10 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


The  school  started  by  Mr.  Weeks  and  Mr.  Stapleton 
soon  became  popular,  the  boys  around  readily  respond- 
ing to  the  call  of  the  bell.  The  first  two  years  were 
mainly  occupied  with  the  inevitable  building,  with 
cultivating  a plot  of  ground  on  which  to  raise  necessary 
produce,  school  teaching,  reducing  the  language  to 
writing,  and  with  establishing  relations  of  friendship 
with  the  people.  Mrs.  Weeks,  too,  had  succeeded  in 
getting  together  a large  school  of  girls. 

Early  in  1893,  Mr.  Stapleton  wrote  home  to  the 
following  effect : — “ As  yet  we  claim  no  Bangala 
converts,  but  regard  our  work  as  being  in  a very  hope- 
ful condition.  We  count  it  a joy  to  work  amongst  a 
tribe  savage  to  a degree,  but  largely  open  to  the 
influence  of  new  ideas,  and  of  a native  independence 
of  character  which,  transformed  by  grace,  shall  develop 
into  a noble,  sturdy  African  manhood  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Monsembi  is  the  only  Protestant  mission  station 
amongst  this  growing  tribe.  The  greatness  of  the 
work  at  times  appals  us  ; but  the  Almighty  Father  is 
with  us,  and  by  the  help  of  the  Divine  Spirit  we  will 
work  on  until  Christ  shall  bless  this  tribe  with  peace, 
and  reign  King  over  all.” 

According  to  recent  intelligence  strong  hopes  are 
entertained  of  some  of  the  senior  boys  because  of  the 
marked  change  in  their  characters.  Several  have 
expressed  eager  desires  to  be  baptised,  but  it  is 
thought  wise  to  defer  their  baptism  for  a while,  clearly 
to  prove  the  genuineness  of  their  profession. 

BorOTO 

is  the  station  last  founded,  being  200  miles  .still  farther 
into  the  interior,  and  1000  miles  distant  from  the 
coast.  In  1890,  Mr.  Grenfell  fixed  the  site,  the  cost 
of  establishing  the  station  being  generously  met  by 
two  Bristol  friends,  Mr.  W.  L.  Forfeitt  and  Mr.  Oram 
being  appointed  as  the  resident  missionaries.  Soon 
after  their  settlement  they  were  able  to  testify  to  the 


THE  NATIVE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES.  Ill 

kindliness  of  the  Bopoto  folk,  and  to  the  curious 
interest  taken  by  them  in  everything  they  possessed, 
and  in  everything  they  did.  After  six  weeks,  when 
their  knowledge  of  the  language  spoken  was  of  course 
very  limited,  they  were  able  on  Sundays  to  gather  large 
congregations,  who  listened  to  the  hymns  they  sang, 
mostly  in  English,  and  looked  with  eagerness  to  the 
pictures  they  exhibited.  The  medical  work  at  this 
early  stage  was  found  of  immense  value.  Great 
progress  was  made  in  acquiring  the  language,  as  in 
seven  months’  time  the  missionaries  could  conduct  the 
services  entirely  in  the  Bopoto  tongue.  Mr.  White, 
who  had  gone  up  to  the  station,  met  with  encouraging 
success  in  school  work,  and  was  most  helpful  in  build- 
ing operations.  The  garden,  too,  sown  with  the  various 
seeds  given  to  the  Mission  by  Messrs.  Sutton  of 
Reading,  was  being  well  cultivated. 

At  the  end  of  the  second  year  the  missionaries 
were  full  of  thankfulness,  feeling  assured  that  they 
were  really  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  people, 
and  thereby  laying  a good  foundation  upon  which 
they  or  others  in  days  to  come  might  build  up  a 
Church  for  Christ.  Mr.  Forfeitt  then  returning  for 
furlough  to  England,  and  Mr.  White  having  removed 
to  another  station,  Mr.  Balfern  went  out  to  join 
Mr.  Oram. 

Early  in  1894,  tidings  came  of  a largely  increased 
school,  no  less  than  125  boys  being  in  attendance, 
a girls’  class  being  also  started  by  Mrs.  Forfeitt.  The 
new  chapel  was  a great  success,  the  congregations 
being  considerable.  At  the  beginning  of  the  present 
year,  1895,  Mr.  Brown,  who  had  recently  returned  to 
the  Congo -after  a visit  home,  wrote: — “Yesterday 
being  Sunday,  the  usual  service  was  held  on  the 
station,  and  not  only  was  the  building  itself  full,  but 
numbers  peered  in  through  the  apertures  that  serve 
as  windows,  listening  and  gazing  intently  at  our 
worship  of  God.  Here  then,”  he  adds,  “ is  our  oppor- 
tunity for  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  in  Bopoto  this 


I 12 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


is  done  to-day,  but  what  of  the  hundreds  of  towns 
that  surround  us  on  every  hand  ? Who  shall  carry 
the  Gospel  to  these  ? ” Later  intelligence  conveys  the 
glad  news  of  the  first  triumphs  of  the  cross  in  Bopoto. 
After  Mr.  Forfeitt  had  been  speaking  in  the  chapel, 
two  lads  came  to  him  manifesting  great  concern 
as  to  their  spiritual  condition.  In  the  evening,  “their 
troubled  hearts  found  peace  in  trusting  the  Saviour.” 
The  next  evening  the  boys  came  for  conversation  and 
prayer,  bringing  others  with  them.  Each  evening  the 
numbers  increased,  and  meetings  became  frequent  for 
testimony,  prayer,  and  praise. 

Thus,  at  five  out  of  the  eight  stations,  Christian 
churches  have  already  been  founded.  Of  the  remain- 
ing three,  two  are  those  most  recently  opened — viz., 
Monsembi  and  Bopoto,  where  the  spiritual  conditions 
as  we  have  seen  are  full  of  promise  ; whilst  at  Under- 
hill, where  the  population  is  very  sparse,  the  station 
being  mainly  for  the  transport  of  goods,  baptisms 
have  lately  been  reported. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  EVANGELISTIC  EFFORTS  OF  THE  NATIVE 
CHRISTIAN  CHURCHES. 

AS  in  other  mission  fields,  so  in  this  of  the  Congo, 
the  great  hope  of  winning  the  heathen  for 
Christ  lies  in  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  by 
its  own  peoples.  The  foreign  missionary  can 
never  do  what  can  be  done  by  an  indigenous  ministry, 
by  native  converts  commending  by  example  and  pro- 
clamation the  faith  they  have  themselves  received. 
Hence  the  foremost  place  given  in  the  missionary 
enterprise  to  training  a native  ministry,  and  the 
encouragement  afforded  to  those  who  become  disciples 
of  Jesus,  to  go  and  tell  their  kindred,  their  neigh- 
bours, their  fellow-countrymen  generally,  what  great 
things  God  hath  done  for  their  souls. 

The  aggressive  zeal  of  the  Congo  Christians  is  full 
of  promise  for  the  religious  future  of  their  country. 

It  is,  of  course,  at  San  Salvador,  where  most 
time  has  been  allowed  for  spiritual  development, 
that  we  naturally  look  for  evidence  of  the  self-pro- 
pagating power  of  the  Gospel,  and  we  do  not  look 
, in  vain.  So  far  back  as  1888,  Mr.  Lewis  was  able 
to  report  the  zealous  devotion  of  the  male  members 

113  H 


114 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


of  the  little  church,  in  visiting  the  neighbouring  towns 
on  Sunday  mornings,  to  tell  their  fellow-countrymen 
of  the  love  of  God  and  of  the  way  of  salvation  in 
Christ  Jesus,  and  how  that  they  were  well  received, 
the  people  listening  gladly  to  them.  From  the  very 
formation  of  the  Church  the  converts  had  been  taught 
the  duty  and  privilege  of  contributing  to  the  work  of 
Christ ; and  when  it  was  suggested  that  their  offer- 
ings might  be  applied  to  the  support  of  one  of  their 
number,  who  should  be  set  apart  as  an  evangelist, 
they  heartily  approved  the  suggestion,  their  choice 
falling  upon  Kivitidi,  a Christian  young  man  of  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  well  qualified  by  the  training  he 
had  received  from  the  missionaries. 

This  step  being  taken,  a preliminary  journey  was 
made  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis,  the  elected  evangelist, 
and  one  or  two  others,  into  the  district  around,  to  deter- 
mine upon  a good  centre  where  Kivitidi  might  be  loca- 
ted. The  place  selected  was  Etoto,  where  there  were 
about  ninety  houses,and  some  four  hundred  inhabitants. 
“ The  next  thing,”  wrote  Mr,  Lewis,  “ was  to  ascertain 
the  feelings  of  the  chief  and  people  on  the  matter.  It 
took  the  chief  some  time  to  believe  that  I was  in 
earnest.  It  was  too  good  for  him  to  believe  it,  he 
said.  In  the  evening  he  spoke  to  his  people  about  it, 
and  next  morning  they  came  to  say  how  delighted 
they  were  to  hear  that  we  would  start  a station  in 
their  town.  I took  good  care  to  explain  that  they 
were  not  to  expect  us  to  give  them  any  cloth  or 
beads ; that  we  only  came  for  the  sake  of  teaching 
them  about  God.  I am  very  anxious  to  make  them 
understand  this  from  the  beginning,  for  I do  not 
believe  in  giving  away  presents  for  the  sake  of  mak- 
ing friends,  much  less  for  being  allowed  to  come 
among  the  people  to  build  a station.  The  natives 
ought  to  be  taught  that  it  is  for  their  benefit  alone 
we  come  to  them,  and  not  to  bring  presents.  This 
having  been  properly  explained,  we  came  to  the  ques- 
tion of  a site  for  our  sub-station.  There  was  no 


NATIVE  TOWN  OF  ETOTO,  CONGO. 


”5 


Il6  THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 

difficulty  about  this.  The  whole  of  the  hill  at  one 
end  of  the  town  was  free  for  us.  We  could  appro- 
priate as  much  as  we  wished  for  houses  and  farms. 
We  then  went  over  the  ground  and  fixed  a place  to 
build  a house.”  Kivitidi  being  well  taught  in  car- 
pentry soon  erected  such  buildings  as  were  required. 
The  work  was  so  prospered  that  nearly  every  man 
and  woman  in  the  town  came  to  the  services  on  the 
Sundays.  The  Church  at  San  Salvador  was  greatly 
encouraged,  and  they  arranged  for  some  of  their 
number  to  go  in  turn  to  reside  for  a while  at  Etoto  to 
assist  the  evangelist,  and  help  in  visiting  the  district 
around.  But  the  work  begun  so  hopefully,  was  after- 
wards hindered  by  an  unfortunate  palaver.  The  dis- 
appointment was  great.  For  a time  it  was  thought 
well  to  suspend  the  services,  but  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  the  Etoto  people  they  were  resumed,  several 
of  the  San  Salvador  members  volunteering  their 
assistance. 

At  Mbanza  Mputu  another  member  of  the  San 
Salvador  Church,  Nlekai,  has  been  much  blessed  in 
his  visits  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Among  those  who 
have  accepted  the  Saviour  is  the  chief,  Mbumba, 
whom  Mr.  Lewis  describes  as  having  been  a very 
cruel  man,  and  the  terror  of  his  people  and  the 
neighbouring  chiefs,  a man  who  would  punish  slight 
offences  with  death,  whose  town  was  consequently 
the  scene  of  most  horrible  sights.  The  depth  of  the 
conviction  of  sin  expressed  by  Mbumba  was  felt  to 
be  most  satisfactory.  “ What  about  the  sins  of  the 
past  ? Will  God  pardon  the  wicked  things  I have 
been  guilty  of?  ” were  his  inquiries,  asked  with  the 
deep  undertone  of  one  in  great  spiritual  anxiety.  On 
the  occasion  of  his  baptism,  with  four  other  converts, 
everyone  in  the  town  was  present,  rejoicing  over  the 
marked  change  that  had  come  over  their  chief.  As 
Mbumba  has  been  placed  by  the  Portuguese  Govern- 
ment next  in  power  to  the  present  King  of  Congo,  he 
may  be  of  still  greater  influence  for  good  in  days  to 


EVANGELISTIC  EFFORTS  OF  NATIVE  CHURCHES.  II7 

come.  Several  of  the  converts  at  Mbanza  Mputu  are 
in  fellowship  with  the  Church  at  San  Salvador. 

Mawunze  is  another  out-station  being  entirely 
worked  by  native  Christians,  where  large  congrega- 
tions come  together  at  the  Sunday  services. 

A fourth  sub-station,  Kimpesi,  has,  at  the  earnest 


CHIEl-  OK  .MliANZA  MPUTU. 


request  of  the  people  living  there,  been  started,  a grass 
house  having  been  built,  which  is  used  for  worship. 

These  three  last-mentioned  towns  are  placed  under 
the  care  of  two  Christian  young  men,  Elembe  and 
Vita.  And  besides  these  fully  planted  stations,  there 
are  several  other  places  regularly  visited  every  Sunday 
by  native  workers,  at  some  of  which  the  inhabitants 
have  themselves  built  houses  where  the  services  can 


Ii8 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


be  held,  and  are  asking  for  a teacher  to  settle  down 
amongst  them. 

It  is  most  satisfactory  to  know  that  the  entire  cost 
of  working  these  various  sub-stations  is  borne  by  the 
Church  at  San  Salvador. 

From  Wathen  station  a large  amount  of  evangelis- 
tic itinerant  work  has  been  effected,  and  in  some  of 
these  journeys  Nlemvo  has  rendered  good  service. 
As  far  as  he  could  be  spared  by  Mr.  Bentley  from 
literary  and  translation  duties,  he  has  gone  into  the 
district  around  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  his  influ- 
ence over  his  fellow-countrymen  has  been  very  marked. 

The  little  Church  at  Wathen  has  been  enabled  to 
start  two  regular  sub-stations,  one  at  Kinsuka,  where 
they  have  appointed  Lo,  and  for  whose  support  they 
have  voted  lOO  brass  rods  per  month,  an  allowance 
considerably  less  than  he  was  able  to  earn,  but  which 
he  was  quite  willing  to  receive  for  the  sake  of  being 
regularly  engaged  in  preaching  and  teaching ; the 
other  at  Tungwa,  which  is  in  charge  of  Nkaku.  Both 
of  these  native  evangelists  meet  with  encouraging 
signs  of  God’s  presence  and  blessing  as  they  labour, 
not  only  in  the  towns  where  they  reside,  but  as  they 
also  itinerate  in  the  surrounding  districts. 

Though  at  the  up-river  stations  the  little  churches 
are  not  yet  sufficiently  developed  to  maintain  out- 
posts, yet  the  native  converts  accompany  the  mission- 
aries on  their  preaching  tours,  bearing  testimony  to 
their  own  conversion,  and  commending  the  Gospel  to 
their  fellow-countrymen  ; and  it  is  anticipated  that  as 
at  San  Salvador  and  Wathen,  so  before  long  at  other 
stations,  some  of  the  converts  will  be  set  apart  to  do 
the  work  of  an  evangelist. 

Mention  may  here  be  made  of  the  interest  shown 
by  the  Congo  Christians  in  missionary  operations  in 
other  lands  than  their  own.  When  they  were  informed 
of  the  celebration  of  the  Centenary  of  the  Baptist 
Missionary  Society,  they  became  desirous  to  unite  in 
the  commemoration.  Contribution  lists  were  opened. 


EVANGELISTIC  EFFORTS  OF  NATIVE  CHURCHES.  I IQ 


From  San  Salvador  no  less  a sum  than  ^33,  14s.  3d. 
was  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  at  the  Mission  House 
in  London,  accompanied  by  the  following  letter 
written  by  one  of  the  deacons : — 


“ Dear  Sir, — As  a Church  here  we  feel  very  thankful 
that  the  Gospel  has  come  to  our  country.  Since  it 
came  to  us  it  has  done  us  much  good  and  made  us 
very  happy,  so  we  thought  we  would  like  very  much 
to  give  something  to  help  you  to  send  out  more  mis- 
sionaries to  take  the  light  of  the  Gospel  to  those  that 
are  in  benighted  lands  like  ours.  Therefore  we 
heartily  made  a collection,  and  collected  a sum  of 
;^33,  14s.  3d. 

“ Kivitidi  and  I send  it,  on  behalf  of  the  Church. 
Do  accept  it  as  our  thank-offering  to  your  Centenary 
Fund  of  the  Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

“ We  are,  on  behalf  of  the  Church, 

“ Kivitidi,  ) r.  » 
“Nlekai, 


The  list  of  contributions  is  in  itself  so  remarkable 


and  so  suggestive,  as  to  call  for  reproduction 

in 

this 

volume : — 

No.  Name. 

Men. 

Description  of  Goods  paid. 

Native 

Value. 

Dollars. 

& 

S. 

ci. 

I Matoko 

I pig  and  i piece  of  cloth 

16 

3 

4 

0 

2 Kalandenda 

2 pieces  cloth  . 

8 

I 

12 

0 

3 Kivitidi 

too  large  ferret  bells 

5 

I 

0 

0 

4 Nlekai 

I piece  Turkey  red  twill  . 

4 

0 

16 

0 

5 Ndonzwau. 

I „ trade  handkerchiefs 

4 

0 

16 

0 

6 Elembe 

I „ red  baft 

3 

0 

12 

0 

7 Vita  . 

* » ))  • • 

3 

0 

12 

0 

8 Diakenga  . 

too  strings  beads  and  i 
piece  handkerchiefs 

3 

0 

12 

0 

9 Mpondo 

I piece  white  drill  . 

3 

0 

12 

0 

10  Senulembwa 

3 

0 

12 

0 

1 1 Mauwele  . 

I flannel  shirt  . 

0 

to 

0 

12  Diongwa  . 

I piece  handkerchiefs 

2 

0 

8 

0 

13  Matata 

2 

0 

8 

0 

14  Suvusu 

150  strings  beads 

li 

0 

6 

0 

Carry  forward, 

60' 

12 

0 

0 

120  THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 

No.  Name. 

Men. 

Description  of  Goods  paid. 

Native 
Value. 
Dollars.  / 

s. 

d. 

Brought  forward, 

60 

12 

0 

0 

15  Elembe 

Fowls  .... 

ih 

0 

6 

0 

16  Mpombolo 

I piece  prints  . 

I 

0 

4 

0 

17  Dika  . 

I „ red  baft 

I 

0 

4 

0 

18  Mingedi 

I 

0 

4 

0 

19  Etalanga  . 

I piece  scarves 

T 

0 

4 

0 

Women. 

20  Nembamba 

I keg  gunpowder 

6 

I 

4 

0 

21  Wavatidi  . 

2 pieces  red  baft 

6 

I 

4 

0 

22  Mpuna 

I piece  red  baft,  200  beads 

6 

I 

4 

0 

23  Lau  . 

I basket  ground  nuts  and 
two  fowls 

0 

18 

0 

24  Fotelwa 

I piece  Oxford  check 

4 

0 

16 

0 

25  Ponta 

* .))  )) 
I piece  prints  . 

4 

0 

16 

0 

26  Umba 

4 

0 

16 

0 

27  Mianza 

I „ trade  cloth  . 

4 

0 

16 

0 

28  Mansanga  . 

90  large  ferret  bells  . 

4i 

0 

18 

0 

29  Nengudi  . 

3 baskets  ground  nuts 

3 

0 

12 

0 

30  Mbaujikisa 

300  strings  beads 

3 

0 

12 

0 

31  Nkidiaka  . 

I piece  red  baft 

3 

0 

12 

0 

32  Mansonso  . 

^ 5)  >?  * * 

3 

0 

12 

0 

33  Menga 

10  yards  red  baft 

2^ 

0 

10 

0 

34  Ntadila 

10  )>  !?  • * 

I basket  nuts,  200  beads  . 

2I 

0 

10 

0 

35  Soloka 

3 

0 

12 

0 

36  Luvuma 

150  beads,  i piece  cloth  . 

2| 

0 

10 

0 

37  Nkiamindele 

I piece  blue  baft 

2 

0 

8 

0 

38  Ntinu  a Nximba 

I „ scarf 

2 

0 

8 

0 

39  Tonba 

2 baskets  nuts  . 

2 

0 

8 

0 

40  Dima 

Fowls  .... 

*2 

0 

6 

0 

41  Mona 

I piece  red  baft 

I 

0 

4 

0 

42  Mbwaku  . 

^5)  »)  * 

I 

0 

4 

0 

43  Mbwanji  . 

f 55  55  • * • 

I 

0 

4 

0 

44  Kinsukulu  . 

100  strings  beads 

I 

0 

4 

0 

45  Mayeto 

100  ,,  ,,  . . 

I 

0 

4 

0 

46  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Phillips  . 

Cash  .... 

10 

2 

0 

0 

47  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis 

Cash  .... 

10 

2 

0 

0 

Small  sums 

Various  .... 

3f 

0 

15 

3 

Dollars 

i67j 

Centenary  card  collected  by  Nlekai  (No.  44,194) 

0 

5 

0 

^33  14  3 


EVANGELISTIC  EFFORTS  OF  NATIVE  CHURCHES.  I2I 


From  Underhill,  Wathen,  Lukolela,  and  Bolobo 
stations,  similar  gifts  were  also  remitted,  with  the 
prayerful  wish  expressed  that  “ God  would  send 
missionaries  out  to  all  people.” 

Another  instance  may  be  mentioned,  showing  the 
earnest  desire  of  these  Congo  Christians  to  make 
known  the  glad  tidings  to  those  who  are  in  ignorance 
of  them.  It  was  on  the  occasion  of  some  Chinamen 
employed  on  the  Congo  Railway,  now  in  course  of 


THE  NEW  CONGO  MISSION  STEAMER,  “GOODWILL.” 

construction,  going  to  San  Salvador.  Being  much 
interested  in  these  Chinese  visitors,  they  were  told 
how  missionaries  were  sent  to  their  country,  and  that 
Mr.  Dixon,  who  was  once  in  Congo,  was  now  one  of 
those  missionaries.  So  greatly  was  their  interest  ex- 
cited that  they  proposed  to  send  Mr.  Dixon  a contri- 
bution for  his  work,  and  no  less  than  was  raised, 
being  the  gifts  of  as  many  as  two  hundred  and  eighty 
persons. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  these  offerings  for  the 


122 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


spread  of  the  Gospel  were  contributed  by  those,  who, 
but  a very  few  years  ago,  were  selfish,  hardened 
heathen,  the  radical  change  in  their  disposition  is 
strikingly  apparent. 

In  this  chapter  it  is  fitting  that  reference  should  be 
made  to  the  evangelistic  facilities  afforded  by  means 
of  the  two  mission  steamers  Peace  and  Goodtvill. 
Whilst  these  vessels  are  of  incalculable  value  for  the 
transport  of  stores  to  the  up-river  stations,  and  for 
general  purposes  of  communication,  they  are  of  such 
great  service  in  strictly  spiritual  work  that  they  may 
be  regarded  as  equal,  if  not  more  than  equal  to  two 
additional  stations.  In  the  journeys  taken  by  the 
missionaries,  they  are  frequently  accompanied  by 
native  Christians,  who  take  their  part  in  publishing 
the  good  news  of  salvation.  As  the  first  steamer. 
Peace,  has  already  been  described  in  these  pages,  it 
may  here  be  stated,  with  respect  to  the  Goodwill,  that 
it  is  of  larger  dimensions  than  the  former,  being  84 
feet  long  by  13  feet  beam,  having  8 berths  instead  of 
4,  and  twice  the  carrying  capacity.  In  the  early  part 
of  last  year,  this  excellent  vessel  was  duly  recon- 
structed and  successfully  launched. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT. 

IN  the  foregoing  chapters  little  or  no  reference  has 
been  made  to  the  many  and  sad  losses  which, 
in  the  course  of  founding  and  developing  the 
Mission,  have  been  sustained  through  death. 
These  losses  require  separate  and  special  attention. 
In  their  pathetic  personal  interest,  and  in  their 
serious  bearing  upon  future  policy,  they  constitute  an 
important  part  of  the  story  of  this  Congo  Mission. 

No  one  possessing  any  knowledge  of  the  climatic 
conditions  of  Western  Central  Africa  could  have 
expected  that  the  pioneer  work  necessary  to  the 
founding  of  stations  would  be  accomplished  without 
risk  to  life.  The  early  history  of  all  previous  missions 
in  tropical  and  malarial  regions  forbade  such  an 
expectation.  The  missionaries  were  very  well  aware 
that  as  they  went  forth  they  were  “hazarding  their 
lives  for  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,”  and  that 
the  possibility,  and  even  the  probability  of  such 
losses  was  a contingency  never  absent  from  the 
minds  of  the  promoters  of  the  enterprise  at  home. 

But  the  losses,  great  as  they  are,  have  been  far  less 
in  proportion  than  those  sustained  by  the  Free  State 

123 


124 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


in  founding  an  earthly  kingdom,  or  by  traders  bent 
on  material  gains,  or  than  even  the  losses  which  have 
befallen  some  other  Christian  missions.  And  further, 
before  attributing  these  losses  to  the  necessarily 
baneful  influence  of  the  climate,  it  would  be  desirable, 
if  it  were  possible,  to  determine  to  what  extent  they 
were  preventible — preventive  by  the  adoption  of 
different  methods,  or  by  the  exercise  of  a zeal 
under  the  control  of  a greater  knowledge.  It  is  also 
a question  how  many  of  these  deaths  would  have 
occurred  as  certainly  in  this  country  as  in  Africa. 

But  weigh  as  we  justly  may  these  and  other 
considerations  it  is  only  when  we  rise  to  the  height  of 
the  spiritual  plane  that  those  reasons  can  be  applied 
which  are  calculated  not  only  to  mitigate  but  effect- 
ually and  completely  to  reconcile  our  minds  and 
hearts  to  these  great  trials.  To  these  reasons, 
however,  we  will  turn  our  attention  presently. 

That  the  losses  simply  regarded  in  and  by  them- 
selves have  been  severe  and  are  even  appalling,  no  one 
can  question  who  is  acquainted  with  the  death  roll. 
The  first  name  on  the  roll  is  that  of  the  bride-wife  of 
the  pioneer  missionary,  Thomas  J.  Comber.  Then 
follow,  at  varying  intervals  of  dates,  these  names : — 
W.  H.  Doke,  J.  S.  Hartland,  H.  W.  Butcher,  J.  W. 
Hartley,  S.  A.  Comber,  M.B.,  D.  M'Millan,  A.  H. 
Cruickshank,  A.  Cowe,  W.  F.  Cottingham,  J.  Maynard, 
J.  H.  Shindler,  F.  C.  Darling,  T.  J.  Comber,  Miss 
Spearing,  H.  G.  Witley,  J.  E.  Biggs,  M.  Richards,  A. 
D.  Slade,  S.  Silvey,  J.  G.  Brown,  W.  F.  Wilkinson, 
Mrs.  P.  E.  Comber,  P.  E.  Comber,  Mrs.  Cameron,  F. 
R.  Oram,  W.  P.  Balfern,  and  S.  R.  Webb,  M.D.,  of 
whose  death  we  sorrowfully  hear  as  we  go  to  press  ; 
and  to  these  lists  may  be  added  three  engineers  who 
went  from  this  country  to  assist  in  the  reconstruction 
of  the  steamer  Peace,  whilst  nine  other  missionaries 
from  one  cause  or  other  have  resigned  their  connection 
with  the  Congo  Mission — viz.,  H.  Dixon,  W.  Ross, 
H.  E.  Crudgington,  W.  Hughes,  W.  Seright,  M.B., 


THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT.  1 25 

D.  Charters,  H.  K.  Moolenaar,  F.  A.  Jeffard  and 
R.  D.  Darby,  two  of  whom  are  now  labouring  in  other 
parts  of  the  mission  field ; Mr.  Dixon  in  China  and 
Mr.  Crudgington  in  India. 

However  sad  and  painful  the  enumeration  of  these 
names  of  the  sainted  and  heroic  dead,  yet  it  is  fitting 
they  should  severally  find  record  in  this  volume.  We 
refrain,  however,  from  biographical  sketches  or 
obituary  notices  but  as  indicating  the  sublime  devo- 
tion and  Christ-like  consecration  of  spirit  by  which 
these  martyrs  of  the  Cross  were  characterised  ; 
and  as  showing  how  they  themselves  regarded 
their  own  death,  it  were  well  to  quote  some  of  their 
personal  utterances.  Said  one  at  his  valedictory 
meeting : “ He  might  come  home  again  ; if  so,  good- 
bye till  then.  It  might  be  that  death’s  bright  angel 
might  call  him  to  higher  work,  and  perhaps  they 
might  never  meet  again  till  before  the  throne ; yes, 
good-bye  till  then.”  Wrote  another  to  Mr.  Baynes : 
“ In  this  enterprise  of  winning  Africa  for  Christ  there 
must  be,  I know,  my  dear  Mr.  Baynes,  much  of  what 
the  world  calls  loss  and  sacrifice,  and  it  may  be  that 
many  will  fall  in  the  blessed  work  of  foundation 
building  only  ; but  what  of  this?  To  have  any  share 
in  this  noblest  of  all  toil,  however  humble  or  obscure, 
be  it  only  hewing  wood  or  drawing  water,  is,  surely, 
honour  and  privilege  any  servant  of  Christ  must  court 
and  long  for.  I desire  to  go  to  this  work  feeling  yet 
more  intensely  day  by  day,  as  the  days  pass  on,  that 
to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die,  gain  ; and  if  He  should 
ordain  for  me  early  death,  after  a few  years  of  humble, 
obscure,  pioneering  work  only — well,  it  must  all  be 
right ; for  it  means  early  and  complete  satisfaction. 
‘ Then  shall  I be  satisfied,  when  I awake  in  Thy 
likeness.’  ” 

On  New  Year’s  Day  another  made  this  entry  in  his 
journal:  “ How  is  this  year  to  be  spent?  In  useful 
service  in  the  vineyard  of  my  Lord  or  called  home  to 
see  Him  as  He  is  and  behold  His  Glory  and  Majesty 


126 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


for  ever ! Lord,  Thou  knowest  best.  In  all  things 
make  known  Thy  blessed  will  and  give  me  grace  to  do 
it.”  Said  another  : “ I know  not  what  may  be  in  store 
for  me,  but  I pray  you  remember,  if  I should  be  early 
called  away,  with  my  last  breath  I hope  to  pray  for 
more  men,  deeper  devotion,  and  more  thorough 
surrender  of  all  for  Christ. 

“To  die  in  such  a cause  is  lofty  privilege,  while  to 
live  and  work  is  solemn  responsibility. 

“ Oh  ! the  joy  and  peace  of  feeling  FULLY  that  all 
is  committed  to  His  wise  and  loving  keeping. 

“ Father,  I know  that  ALL  my  life  is  portioned  out 

by  Theer 

“ Are  you  sorry,”  asked  the  watchers  by  one  of 
these  servants  of  God  when  passing  away,  “ are  you 
sorry  you  came  to  the  Congo  ? ” “ Oh  no,”  he  replied, 
“ very  thankful.”  “ My  work ’s  soon  done,  isn’t  it  ? 
There  are  many  more  of  our  men  (his  fellow-students) 
who  will  soon  come.”  “For  Jesus’  sake.”  “ I ’ll  soon 
be  home  ! I ’ll  soon  be  home  ! ” “ Work  on,  brethren  ; 
don’t  let  the  loss  of  your  men  hinder  you.  Never 
give  up — hope  always.  O Jesus  ! soon  be  at  home. 
This  is  the  valley ; I will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou  art 
with  me.  ’Twill  soon  be  over.  Tell  all  our  boys 
(the  boys  at  the  Stockwell  Orphanage)  to  seek  the 
Saviour.  Good-bye ! I ’ll  look  for  you  ; I ’ll  wait  for 
you.  Faith  can  firmly  trust  Him,  come  what  may. 
Brethren,  brethren,  be  of  good  cheer.  Rock  of  Ages 
cleft  for  me  ! ” 

Whilst  others  expressed  themselves  in  the  following 
strains : — “ Work  for  Christ  in  Africa  must  be  my 
life  work.  I desire  this  work  more  than  all  else,  and 
be  my  life  long  or  short,  I pray  it  may  be  faithful 
unto  the  end.  And  who  knows  how  soon  the  end 
may  come  ? Life  is  not  always  to  be  measured  by 
years.”  “ As  I think  of  the  dear  ones  now  with  the 
Saviour,  I seem  to  feel  in  a very  solemn  way  bound 
to  Africa.  Their  graves  seem  to  be  speechful,  and  to 
bid  me  gird  up  my  loins  and  work  while  it  is  day. 


THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT.  \2J 

What  a sublime  privilege  it  is  to  be  allowed  to  carry 
on  this  Congo  Mission  Work  ! Words  can  never  tell 
how  greatly  I rejoice  in  it.”  “ Remember,”  to  quote 
one  other  when  writing  to  his  parents,  “ remember,  I 
am  just  as  safe  as  if  our  dear  brothers  had  not  died. 
You  committed  me  to  God,  did  you  not?  And  He 
is  ever  the  same.  Nothing  can  or  shall  harm  me 
until  He  sees  fit.  A gloom  is  cast  over  us  ; but  God’s 
grace  is  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  is  being  propor- 
tioned to  our  need.  I go  forward  in  His  strength  ; 
that  was  my  New  Year’s  motto,  you  know.  And 
pestilence,  however  rampant,  shall  not  come  near  me 
unless  there  is  a ‘needs  be.’  And  if  so,  who  shall 
murmur  ? ” Such  then  was  the  spirit  of  these  Christ- 
ian missionaries,  who  by  laying  down  their  lives  for 
Christ’s  sake  have  for  ever  made  sacred  this  Congo 
Mission. 

Upon  the  heart-sorrow  such  early  deaths  must  have 
caused  to  relatives  and  friends  we  do  not  dwell. 
Better  were  it  to  recall  the  Christian  fortitude  and 
heroic  faith  which,  by  God’s  grace,  have  been  so 
wonderfully  displayed.  One  knows  not  which  the 
more  gratefully  to  admire  and  revere,  the  brave  devo- 
tion of  those  who  have  fallen  on  the  field,  or  the 
trustful  acquiescence  of  those  who  surrendered  their 
sons  or  their  daughters  for  the  sake  of  Africa’s 
redemption.  Said  one  of  the  bereaved,  and  she  a 
widowed  mother : — “ This  Congo  Mission  is,  I am 
confident,  dearer  to  me  to-day  than  ever ; instead  of 
being  discouraged  by  our  losses,  let  us  rejoice  that 
our  loved  ones  have  been  counted  worthy,  let  us  seek 
a baptism  for  the  dead,  and  let  us  all  remember  that 
now  we  are  specially  encompassed  with  a great  cloud 
of  witnesses — our  Congo  missionaries  included.” 

“We  shall  indeed  miss  our  dear  son  very,  very 
much,”  wrote  another,  “ but  we  do  not  regret  having 
given  him  up,  ‘ even  to  die,’  in  such  a glorious  cause. 

“The  Lord  must  know  best,  and  He  cannot  have 
made  a mistake. 


128 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


“This  surely  must  be  part  of  His  divine  plan  for 
the  up-raising  of  poor  down-trodden  Africa ; and 
although  the  sowing  time  is  bitter  and  sorrowful,  and 
the  sacrifice,  humanly  speaking,  enormous,  yet  surely 
the  reaping  time  is  not  far  off.  Ere  long  doubtless 
we  shall  witness  a rich  and  abundant  harvest,  where 
so  many  of  our  loved  ones  have  had  the  high  honour 
of  laying  down  their  lives  for  the  Christ  they  so  dearly 
loved.” 

“ Sorrowing  as  we  do  for  the  loss  of  our  dear  son,” 
said  yet  another,  “ we  propose  to  erect  no  monument  to 
him  in  far-distant  Lukungu — he  lives  in  our  hearts  for 
ever  ; but  we  do  propose  to  endeavour  to  forward  the 
grand  objects  which  he  had  so  much  at  heart,  and  as 
we  cheerfully  gave  up  our  son  to  the  work,  so  now, 
parents,  brother,  and  sister  unite  to  equip  some  other 
soldier  of  the  Cross,  who,  stepping  into  the  gap,  may 
carry  on  the  warfare  against  heathenism  ; and  we 
pray  earnestly  that  our  Heavenly  Father  may  grant 
His  blessing  in  large  measure  to  him  who  will  take 
our  son’s  place.  For  this  purpose  I have  great  pleas- 
ure in  enclosing  a cheque  to  cover  outfit  and  passage 
expenses  of  a new  Congo  missionary.” 

In  view  of  the  nature  of  the  motives  actuating  those 
who  laid  down  their  lives  for  Christ  in  Congo,  and  as 
well  of  the  fine  spirit  of  surrender  characterising  the 
friends  from  whom  they  parted,  does  not  the  serious 
question  arise  whether  any  interposition  intended  to 
restrain  and  hinder  might  not  have  resulted  in  viola- 
tion of  solemn  duty,  in  the  resistance  of  a Divine  call, 
yea,  in  the  denial  of  a privileged  ministry  which 
angels  might  have  coveted  ? 

And  further,  for  the  purpose  of  regarding  aright 
the  losses  on  the  Congo,  it  needs  to  be  said  that  these 
young  missionaries  were  by  no  means  under  the  spell 
of  a maudlin  fanaticism  ; their  pious  aspirations  did 
not  come  of  a sentimental  religiousness  ; on  the  other 
hand,  their  piety  was  robust,  and  their  views  of  things 
were  practical ; they  went  forth  hoping  and  intending 


For  i^ermis&ion  to  reproduce  the  photographs  of  the  deceased 
members  of  the  Congo  band,  given  on  pages  130  and  131,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  folloiving  : — 

Messrs.  Elliott  & Fry,  Baker  Street,  W. ; Messrs.  Barraud, 
Ltd.,  Oxford  Street,  W. ; Mr.  W.  E.  Wright,  Forest  Gate, 
E.;  Mr.  J.  G.  Tunny,  Maitland  Street,  Edinburgh  ; Mr.  W. 
G.  Parker,  Holborn,  W.C. ; Messrs.  Seaman  & Sons,  Chester- 
field ; Messrs.  Taylor  & Bastain,  Kentish  Town,  N.W.  ; Mr. 
Ed.  Smith,  Cheapside,  E.C. ; Messrs.  Rees,  Pitcher,  & Co., 
Clapham  Road,  S.W. ; Messrs.  Eason  & Co.,  Kingsland,  N. ; 
Mr.  J.  Bowman,  Jamaica  Street,  Glasgow;  Messrs.  Villiers 
and  Quick,  Park  Street,  Bristol ; Mr.  W.  R.  Munro,  Edin- 
burgh; Mr.  T.  Miller,  Wellingborough  ; Mr.  Watson,  Hull; 
Mr.  Hy.  Pickering,  Manchester;  Mr.  G.  V.  Yates,  Sheffield; 
Mr.  T.  Protheroe,  Bristol ; Mr.  Wm.  Mountain,  Clapham 
Road,  S.W.  ; Mr.  F.  Haes,  Westbourne  Grove,  W. ; Mr.  J. 
Bowen,  Kilburn,  N.W.  ; Mr.  Ramsey,  Bridge  of  Allan ; and 
Mr.  Percy  S.  Lankester,  Tunbridge  Wells. 


I 


MEN  AND  WOMEN  WHO  HAVE  HAZARDED  THEIR  LIVES  FOR  THE  NAME  OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 


. Maynard.  J.  S.'Hartland.  T.  J.  Comber.  Mrs.  T.  J.  Comber.  W.  F.  Cottingham.  W.  H.  Doke. 


J.  E.  Biggs.  H.  G.  Whitley.  J.  H.  Shindler.  F.  C.  Darling.  Miss  Spearing.  A.  D.  Slade. 


Neither  count  I my  life  dear  unto  myself. 


THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT.  1 33 


to  live  and  to  live  long  in  the  service  of  their  Divine 
Master.  Those  responsible  for  sending  them  to 
Africa  have  done  all  in  their  power  to  inculcate 
this  healthy  Christian  spirit  and  proper  estimate  of 
the  preciousness  of  life. 

And  again,  before  referring  to  the  higher  con- 
siderations which  we  are  aware  alone  can  reconcile 
to  these  losses,  it  is  of  great  importance  to  point  out 
that,  of  late  years,  the  deaths  have  been  much  less 
frequent  than  in  the  earlier  period  of  the  history  of 
this  Mission.  Taking  the  six  years,  beginning  with 
1883,  the  year  when  the  first  death  occurred  after  that 
of  Mrs.  T.  J.  Comber,  during  that  period  there  were 
eighteen  losses,  whereas  in  the  subsequent  six  years 
there  were  eight,  less  than  half,  in  four  of  which  years 
there  were  only  three,  two  of  the  three  being  ladies. 
It  is  believed  that  the  greater  immunity  from  loss  is 
the  result  of  the  more  settled  state  of  the  Mission,  the 
improved  sanitary  condition  of  the  stations,  and  the 
ability  to  treat  with  better  medical  skill  the  fever  of 
the  country.  And  so,  as  experience  further  increases, 
it  is  reasonable  to  hope  that  the  lives  of  the  mission- 
aries will  be,  to  a still  larger  extent,  preserved. 

But  great  as  is  the  relief  afforded  by  the  remarkable 
decrease  in  the  mortality  of  late  years,  and  hopeful  as 
such  a fact  unquestionably  is  with  respect  to  the 
future,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that,  in  a malarial  coun- 
try like  the  Congo,  mission  work  must  be  under- 
taken at  some  peril  to  life.  This  being  so,  it  is  only 
when  the  high  spiritual  results  produced  by  these  losses 
by  death  are  considered,  that  the  right  position  is  found 
from  which  to  meet  the  inquiry — not  always  put  in  a 
calculating,  much  less  cynical  spirit — to  what  purpose 
is  this  waste  ? Many  sincere  Christians,  staggered  by 
the  repeated  tidings  of  disaster,  have  questioned  the 
wisdom  of  sending  young  men  out  to  Africa,  as  they 
say,  to  die,  feeling  that  brave  lives  are  being  need- 
lessly sacrificed,  and  sorrow  to  the  bereaved  unneces- 
sarily occasioned. 


K 


134  the  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 

But  what  if,  through  the  self-sacrificing  love  and 
devotion  of  these  young  missionaries,  the  foundation 
of  the  kingdom  of  God  could  only  be  effectively  laid  ? 
What  if,  in  this  connection,  the  great  principle  of 
Christ’s  teaching  applies — viz.,  the  necessity  of  the 
death  of  the  wheat  corn  for  the  sake  of  the  much 
fruitfulness  of  the  golden  harvest?  Is  it  not  signifi- 
cant that  hard  heathen  hearts  should  be  moved  to 
tenderness  and  pity  by  the  very  fact  of  suffering  and 
death  ? “ These  white  men  must  love  us  much,  or 

they  would  never  leave  their  beautiful  country,  so  far 
away,  to  come  here  and  get  fever  and  die,”  was  the 
potent  conclusion  to  which,  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Mission,  the  natives  were  compelled  to  come.  And 
as  progress  was  made,  these  were  the  sentiments,  as 
expressed  by  one  of  themselves,  which  widely  prevailed ; 
“ How  very  very  sorry  I am  for  Mr.  Comber’s  death  and 
for  Mr.  Percy’s  sake.  The  people,  too,  at  San  Salva- 
dor and  Ngombi  are  very  very  sorry  to  lose  a very 
kind  friend  like  Mr.  Comber ; they  say  that  he  was 
not  only  a kind  friend,  but  that  he  was  a chief,  settling 
palavers  in  their  towns  better  than  chiefs  do,  and  tell- 
ing us  good  messages  from  God  ; and  the  people  ask 
why  has  God  taken  Mr.  Comber  so  quickly,  and  other 
white  men  who  have  died  lately,  and  even  I,  I often 
wonder  how  it  is  God  is  doing  this  ; perhaps  God  is 
teaching  us  something  which  we  do  not  know  yet,  but 
God  knows  everything  and  what  is  the  best  for  His 
work.” 

And  when  fever  claimed  the  last  of  the  Comber 
family  one  wrote  thus  : — 

“From  our  side,  the  side  of  the  blank,  and  the 
silence,  and  the  cold  grave,  this  loss  is  very  sad. 
But  if  ‘we  have  not  followed  cunningly  devised 
fables  ’ there  is  another  side,  bright  with  the  light 
of  God’s  face,  musical  with  Heaven’s  harmonies,  glad 
with  the  energy  of  perfect  service,  and  the  peace  of 
an  Eternal  Home.  Nor  on  this  side  is  it  all  loss. 
When  the  alabaster  box  was  broken  the  house  was 


THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT.  1 35 


filled  with  the  odour  of  the  ointment ; and  though 
the  last  of  the  Combers  has  fallen,  the  stimulating 
fragrance  of  their  sacrifice  will  steal  all  round  the 
world.” 

Not  so  very  long  ago  a missionary  addressing  an 
audience  in  this  country  said,  in  words  something  to 
this  effect : — As  an  illustration  of  Christ’s  love  for 
sinners,  he  had  sometimes  ventured  when  speaking  to 
the  natives  to  refer  to  the  love  of  dear  fellow-mission- 
aries in  coming  out  to  Congo  even  to  die  for  their 
sake,  and  then  as  he  had  spoken  of  the  Saviour’s  love 
in  coming  down  from  Heaven,  and  had  told  the  story 
of  the  Cross,  light  seemed  to  dawn  upon  their  under- 
standings, and  tears  of  mingled  sorrow  and  joy  started 
from  their  eyes. 

And  if  after  this  manner  God  is  working  out  His  own 
redeeming  purposes,  and  the  blood  of  these  martyr- 
spirit  missionaries  is  thus,  as  heretofore,  becoming  the 
very  seed  of  the  Church  in  Congo ; so  also  the  influence 
of  the  Christian  heroism  displayed  in  that  distant 
land  has  without  question  been  reacting  for  good  upon 
the  Churches  at  home.  No  one  can  tell  how  the 
spiritual  life  of  individual  believers,  and  the  godly  zeal 
of  Christian  communities,  have  been  quickened  afresh 
by  the  inspiration  flowing  from  the  examples  of  dis- 
interested, unselfish  devotion  the  Congo  Mission  has 
furnished.  And  is  it  not  further  certain  that  the 
missionary  interest  in  other  parts  of  the  mission  field, 
and  this,  not  with  regard  only  to  the  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Society,  has  gained  a new  stimulus  through  the 
holy  valour  of  these  young  lives  so  early  but  so 
triumphantly  closed  in  Christ’s  service  in  Africa  ? 


OUR  HEROES. 

We  talk  sometimes  of  the  days  long  past. 
Of  our  ancient  chivalry. 

We  praise  the  deeds  of  the  knights  of  old, 
Their  courage  and  courtesy. 


136 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


They  faced  the  foe  on  the  battle-field  ; 

They  crossed  o’er  the  deep  sea  wave  ; 
They  travelled  far  into  Eastern  lands, 

To  save  from  Islam’s  cruel  hands 
Their  Lord  and  Saviour’s  grave. 

In  many  a ballad  quaint  and  old, 

In  many  a poet’s  rhyme. 

The  names  and  the  famous  deeds  are  told 
Of  the  knights  of  “ ye  olden  tyme.” 

Say  ye  that  men’s  hearts  are  colder  grown 
Than  in  days  of  long  ago — 

That  this  age  knows  nought  of  chivalry — 
That  only  for  wealth,  or  station  high. 

Great  deeds  are  attempted  now  ? 

But  the  deeds  I tell  and  the  men  I praise 
Belong  not  to  days  of  yore ; 

Brief  is  the  time,  and  the  months  but  few. 
Since  these  heroes  left  our  shore. 

Yet  never  Crusader  among  them  all 
Had  courage  more  brave  and  high. 

Nor  among  King  Arthur’s  Table  Round 
Could  knights  with  nobler  aims  be  found. 
Or  more  perfect  courtesy. 

They  went  not  to  rescue  the  sepulchre 
Where  once  the  dear  Lord  had  lain  ; 

But  to  raise  a land  from  age-long  sleep 
Into  life  and  light  again. 

For  long  over  Afric’s  streams  and  plains 
A dense,  dark  veil  was  spread. 

That  veil  had  in  part  been  lifted  now. 

They  saw  that  ignorance,  sin,  and  woe, 
Were  hidden  beneath  its  shade. 

’Twas  not  for  the  sake  of  a “ ladye  fayre,” 
’Twas  not  for  an  earthly  home. 

That  they  bade  farewell  to  their  native  land 
And  crossed  o’er  the  ocean  foam  ; 


THE  DEATH  ROLL,  AND  HOW  TO  REGARD  IT.  1 37 


But  a tender  pity  filled  their  hearts, 

For  their  brethren  across  the  sea  ; 

They  heard  a wail  from  those  far-off  lands, 

They  saw,  in  fancy,  those  “ stretched-out  hands  ” — 
Stretched  out  in  their  misery. 

They  went  by  command  of  no  earthly  king, 

They  followed  no  captain  here  ; 

Yet  an  order,  clear  as  a trumpet  call. 

Fell  on  each  listening  ear. 

“ Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  do  ? ” they  prayed. 
And  swiftly  the  answer  came, 

“ Go  seek  thy  brothers  on  Afric’s  shore. 

They  perish  in  darkness,  their  need  is  sore  ; 

Go,  tell  them  of  Jesu’s  name.” 

Go,  tell  of  the  FatheFs  wondrous  love. 

How  He  gave  His  only  Son  ; 

How  the  Saviour  left  His  home  above 
To  ransom  them  every  one. 

Tell  of  His  wondrous  life  on  earth. 

Of  the  tender  words  He  spake  ; 

Tell  that  He  died  for  the  black  man’s  sin. 

That  He  rose  from  the  dead  and  the  fight  did  win. 
And  their  sleeping  souls  will  wake. 

O ! gladly  they  followed  their  King’s  behest. 
Fearlessly  crossed  the  sea. 

Yet  they  little  dreamed  that  in  Afric’s  land 
So  brief  would  their  labour  be. 

But  the  summons  came  from  the  King  they  loved. 
And  they  knew  His  will  was  best. 

They  laid  down  the  task  they  had  just  begun  ; 

They  put  off  the  armour  so  late  put  on  ; 

And  peacefully  sank  to  rest. 

Calmly  they  sleep  by  the  Congo’s  stream, 

’Mid  those  that  they  yearned  to  save  ; 

Yet  a voice  still  speaks  to  the  black  man’s  heart. 

As  he  stands  by  the  white  man’s  grave. 


138 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Telling  of  patient  toil  and  care, 

And  of  tender  sympathy  ; 

Leading  their  thoughts,  through  the  human  love. 
To  the  Father  of  black  and  white,  above. 

To  the  Saviour  of  bond  and  free. 

Were  they  not  heroes  ? These  men  I sing. 

So  tender,  so  true,  and  brave. 

O ! who  will  finish  the  task  they  left 
To  rest  in  the  peaceful  grave? 

Ah  ! we  know  the  heroes  will  never  fail. 

Till  the  heathen  are  gathered  home. 

Till  the  Afric  joins  in  the  glorious  song. 

Till  the  whole  wide  earth  shall  to  Christ  belong. 
Till  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  come. 

H.  S. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  CONGO  MISSION. 

IN  the  foregoing  chapters  the  story  of  the  difficulties, 
the  trials,  and  the  achievements  of  this  remark- 
able Mission,  with  such  detail  as  space  would 
allow,  has  been  told.  But  what  about  the  future? 
The  narrative  extends  over  some  seventeen  years. 
What  will  be  the  record  of  another  similar  period  of 
time  ? Or  what  will  be  the  condition  of  this  Mission 
when  its  jubilee  shall  be  commemorated  ? The 
initiatory  stage  may  now  be  said  to  be  past.  Will 
the  progress  be  equal  to  the  expectation  and  the 
possibilities  ? The  foundations  are  now  it  is  believed 
well  and  surely  laid.  Will  the  superstructure  be 
reared  without  needless  delay  ? The  future  of  this 
Congo  Mission  lies  with  God,  yes,  but  with  God,  as 
He  shall  answer  the  prayers,  and  accept  and  use  the 
gifts  in  means  and  in  men  His  own  people  shall 
supply ! Thus,  in  a very  true  and  real,  if  subordinate 
sense,  the  progress  and  triumphs  of  this  missionary 
enterprise  rest  with  the  Churches  at  home.  If  the 
honour  of  being  permitted  to  begin  so  important  a 
work  for  God  is  great,  the  responsibility  _^of  its  con- 
tinuance and  its  growth  is  surely  greater. 


139 


140 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Let  it  be  here  stated,  that  as  far  back  as  1885  it  was 
solemnly  and  deliberately  resolved  to  establish  at  least 
ten  stations  on  the  uninterrupted  waterway  of  the 
Upper  Congo,  between  Stanley  Pool  and  Stanley 
Falls,  at  about  an  average  distance  of  a hundred  miles 
apart.  Of  these  stations,  including  the  one  at  the 
Pool,  only,  as  we  have  seen,  half  have  been  founded. 
The  sites,  however,  of  two  others  have  been  secured, 
but  wait  occupation,  one  being  near  the  Lubi  Falls  on 
the  Loika  river,  which,  in  the  future,  as  the  country  in 
that  region  shall  become  better  known,  may  be  a 
most  important  station,  being  possibly  on  the  high 
road  to  the  Eastern  Soudan ; and  the  other  at  Mojembo, 
on  the  great  Mobangi  river,  where  an  eligible  plot  of 
land  was  obtained  two  years  ago,  the  necessary 
material  for  founding  it  being  in  hand,  but  which,  at 
the  present  moment,  continues  unoccupied. 

Let  Mr.  Grenfell,  the  discoverer  of  this  mighty 
waterway,  speak  for  himself  as  to  the  importance  of 
the  Mobangi.  After  referring  to  the  possibility  of  the 
Aruwimi  and  the  Loika  affluents  being  barred  for  the 
present,  and  thinking  perhaps  that  the  contemplated 
plan  for  extension  might  be  better  carried  out  on  the 
Mobangi,  Mr.  Grenfell  has  said  : — 

“ The  more  we  hear  of  the  Mobangi  as  a route  to 
the  interior,  the  more  are  we  impressed  with  the 
advantages  it  offers  for  the  carrying  out  of  our  plans. 
On  the  farther  affluents  of  the  Mobangi  we  hear  of 
large  towns,  and  such  a measure  of  civilisation  as  we 
have  not  elsewhere  encountered  in  the  whole  of  the 
Congo  basin.  Captain  Van  Gele  tells  us  that  at 
Bangasso,  between  six  and  seven  hundred  miles  from 
the  confluence  of  the  Mobangi  with  the  Congo,  he  was 
received  by  the  chief  in  great  state,  accompanied  by 
some  two  thousand  trained  soldiers,  and  a bodyguard 
of  thirty  men  in  Soudanese  uniforms,  and  armed  with 
weapons  evidently  secured  through  the  trade  routes  of 
the  Soudan.  The  language  here  belonged  to  quite  a 
different  stock  from  those  spoken  over  the  greater 


THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  CONGO  MISSION.  I4I 


portion  of  the  Congo  basin,  being  Negroid,  and  not 
Bantu,  and  communication  was  maintained  through 
the  medium  of  Arabic.  This  place,  Bangasso,  is  only 
one  of  several  important  districts  the  Belgian  explor- 
ers tell  us  of,  and  with  which  they  have  been  able  to 
enter  upon  satisfactory  relationship  ; and  the  accounts 
just  recently  to  hand  make  us  very  desirous  indeed 
to  include  them  within  the  range  of  our  forward 
policy.” 

And  Mr.  Darby,  visiting  Mojembo  some  eighteen 
months  after  the  above  utterance,  was  able  to  report 
of  the  projected  site  as  follows  : — 

“ There  are  six  or  seven  towns  within  touch  by 
canoe  on  either  side  of  the  place ; there  is  an  inland 
population  not  far  away.  The  people  there  are  the 
most  industrious  I have  yet  seen  in  the  whole  of 
Africa ; every  art  practised  on  the  Congo  we  found 
carried  on  in  this  place  in  the  most  business-like 
fashion — iron  smelting,  smith’s  work  of  all  kinds, 
brass  necklets,  anklets,  bracelet  making,  copper  manu- 
facture, cloth  making,  oil-extracting  from  the  kernels ; 
plenty  of  food,  good  houses,  friendly  people,  clean, 
and  plenty  of  them — surely  such  a site  could  not  be 
excelled  ! . . . During  the  remainder  of  our  explora- 
tion, we  saw  many  eligible  sites,  but  none  that  seemed 
so  suitable  as  Mojembo.  I wish  I had  space  to  write 
you  all  we  saw  at  Mojembo,  that  instinctively  drew  us 
to  it  as  a fitting  spot.  The  language  is  strange,  it  is 
true;  I got  about  150  words  of  it.  They  are  very 
peculiar  in  form  ; some,  I think,  induce  me  to  suppose 
that  it  belongs  to  the  Bantu  family — in  fact,  so  far 
as  the  list  I have  secured  goes,  I may  say  I am  certain 
it  belongs  to  that  family ; its  nearest  relation,  is, 
I think,  in  the  Bopoto  language.  For  this  and 
many  other  most  cogent  reasons,  we  think  that  this 
spot  is  singularly  suitable  and  hopeful  for  the  new 
station.” 

But  two  years  have  passed  away,  and  owing  to  cir- 
cumstances, no  station  has  as  yet  been  established  on 


142 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


this  very  eligible  spot,  though,  happily,  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe  it  will  shortly  be  occupied.  In  the 
very  near  future  it  is  earnestly  hoped  Mojembi  will 
become  the  centre  of  important  missionary  activity. 

Should  the  planting  of  the  rest  of  the  proposed 
stations  be  delayed,  it  has  to  be  borne  in  mind  that 
an  immense  amount  of  most  promising  evangelistic 
itineration  will  be  possible  now  that  two  steamers  and 
other  boats  are  at  the  service  of  the  Mission.  The 
recent  addition  of  so  splendid  a vessel  as  the  Goodwill 
will  enable  the  missionaries  to  avail  themselves  as 
never  heretofore  of  the  Congo  riverine  system,  afford- 
ing as  it  does  such  wonderful  facilities  of  communica- 
tion with  the  vast  populations  of  the  country. 

It  has  further  to  be  borne  in  mind,  as  an  induce- 
ment to  persevering  endeavour,  that  every  year  the 
native  evangelistic  resources  are  becorning  greater, 
and  consequently  the  fresh  needs  caused  by  extend- 
ing operations  may,  by  converts  trained  for  service, 
be  more  readily  supplied. 

But  if,  contemplating  the  millions  of  people  who 
wait  for  the  proclamation  of  the  Gospel,  remembering 
the  perfect  natural  facilities  for  reaching  them  which 
so  wonderfully  obtain  in  the  Upper  Congo  region,  and 
if  in  view  of  the  blessed  results  already  achieved,  the 
prospects  may  be  truly  described  as  most  promising 
and  most  inspiring ; then  the  main  question  appears 
to  be  : will  the  Christian  Churches,  by  whose  prayerful 
sympathy  and  consecrated  gifts  this  Congo  Mission 
was  begun  and  has  so  far  been  maintained,  be  prepared 
for  a forward  policy  ? Will  the  funds  be  forthcoming, 
without  which  new  stations  cannot  be  founded  and 
manned  ? 

That  the  Congo  Mission  is  costly,  owing  to  the 
conditions  in  which  it  has  to  be  conducted,  cannot  be 
gainsaid,  inasmuch  as  about  one-half  of  the  total 
expenditure  is  absorbed  in  freight,  transport,  and 
other  charges  incidental  to  the  exceptional  nature  of 
the  enterprise.  To  what  extent  the  present  rate  of 


THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  CONGO  MISSION.  143 


outlay  may  be  relieved  when  the  railway,  in  the  Lower 
Congo  from  Matadi  to  Stanley  Pool,  now  in  course  of 
.construction,  shall  be  completed,  it  is  impossible  to 
tell,  but  that  in  time  some  relief  may  be  obtained  it  is 
reasonable  to  expect.  The  greater  carrying  capacity 
of  the  new  steamer,  the  Goodwill^  for  supplying  the 
■ up-river  stations  with  the  needful  stores,  will  doubtless 
too  effect  some  pecuniary  advantage.  And  further, 
the  possibility,  as  the  conditions  of  life  improve,  of 
the  missionaries  remaining  for  longer  periods  at  their 
post  without  the  necessity  of  such  frequent  changes, 
will  also  help  to  reduce  expenditure.  And  as  the 
country  becomes  more  civilised  and  developed,  other 
methods  of  procedure  less  costly  may  be  devised. 

Giving,  however,  all  these  and  other  points  their 
due  consideration,  there  is  little  prospect  of  this 
Congo  Mission  being  conducted  without  considerable 
outlay,  if  its  operations  are  to  proceed  upon  the  lines, 
which,  after  most  careful  consideration  and  long 
experience,  have  been  adopted  as  those  alone  likely  in 
the  main  to  lead  to  permanent  success. 

Will  then  the  Churches  which  are  interested  in  this 
Mission  be  ready  with  the  requisite  support?  Do 
they  so  realise  the  responsibility  and  blessedness  of 
this  service  for  Christ  in  dark  Africa  that  as  the 
demands  grow  their  gifts  will  increase?  May  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church  bestow  abundantly  His 
grace  upon  His  servants,  so  that  having  been  intrusted 
with  the  Gospel,  they  may  worthily  and  faithfully 
discharge  the  solemn  but  glorious  trust ! 

But  perhaps  it  will  be  asked.  Instead  of  attempting 
any  further  extension,  would  it  not  be  wiser  and  every 
way  more  desirable  to  concentrate  effort  upon  the 
stations  already  founded  ? Better  to  have  a few 
stations  efficiently  worked  rather  than  a larger  number 
feebly  maintained.  There  must,  it  will  be  affirmed, 
be  a limit  to  the  sphere  of  labour.  Much  may  be 
said  in  favour  of  a policy  of  concentration,  provided 
always  that  the  points  of  concentration  are  as  numer- 


144 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


ous  as  earnest  and  self-denying  efforts  will  permit. 
It  is  possible  to  become  content  to  settle  down,  not- 
withstanding the  great  commission  reads ; Go  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature. 

As  this  phase  of  the  missionary  enterprise  is  most 
important  in  its  bearing  upon  future  policy,  it  will  be 
appropriate  and  useful  to  quote  in  this  connection 
the  opinion  of  Mr.  Grenfell : “ It  has  been  urged,”  he 
said  on  a certain  occasion,  “ by  some  that  we  are 
scattering  our  energies  over  too  wide  an  area.  They 
ask : ‘ Why  not  concentrate  your  efforts  upon  a 
narrower  field,  as  business  men  would  do  ? ’ They 
say — and  they  have  been  successful  business  men  who 
have  said  it,  as  well  as  enthusiastic  missionary  helpers 
— ‘ It  has  been  far  better  in  our  experience  to 
thoroughly  work  a small  district  than  to  spend  the 
same  amount  of  work  over  a larger  one.’  It  is  an 
argument  that  falls  with  great  weight  upon  the  ears 
of  practical  people,  and,  so  far  as  business  in  this 
country  is  concerned,  I have  no  doubt  that  it  indic- 
ates the  right  policy ; but  in  Africa  we  are  dealing 
with  quite  a different  set  of  circumstances,  and  are  at 
work  under  quite  different  conditions.  There  was  a 
time  when  the  traders  on  the  Congo  maintained 
the  policy  our  friends  now  urge  upon  ourselves. 
In  those  days  the  missionaries  led  the  van  towards 
the  interior,  but  they  are  bygone  days,  for  business 
men  have  pushed  ahead  of  us,  and  left  us  far  behind  ; 
and,  as  a consequence  of  their  spreading  out,  the 
short  dividends  of  the  policy  of  concentration  have 
given  place  to  as  much  profit  in  one  year  as  they  used 
to  make  in  ten.  So,  you  see,  the  advice  of  our 
friends,  though  apparently  so  sound,  and  backed  up 
as  it  is  with  such  great  experience,  and  also  with  such 
very  practical  sympathy  for  our  work,  does  not  hold 
good  under  all  conditions,  and  much  less  does  it  hold 
good  in  the  distinctly  different  sphere  of  the  Christian 
propaganda.  We  missionaries  on  the  Congo  have 
been  greatly  impressed  by  the  effectual  working  of 


THE  FUTURE  OF  TFIE  CONGO  MISSION.  145 


the  ‘ leaven  of  the  Kingdom,’  and  we  maintain  we 
are  pursuing  the  wisest  policy,  and  the  policy  most  in 
accord  with  our  Divine  Master’s  will,  when  we  carry 
the  ‘leaven’  to  the  greatest  number  of  separate 
centres,  and  in  His  name  set  it  working  there.  And 
we  also  feel,  considering  the  needs  of  the  case,  and 
the  commission  we  have  received,  that  we  ought  to 
march  boldly  and  attempt  great  things  in  our 
Master’s  name.  We  never  hear  of  Paul  being  afraid 
of  getting  too  far  away  from  Jerusalem.  Our  past 
experience  affords  us  every  encouragement  for  push- 
ing forward,  for  God  has  very  markedly  blessed 
and  kept  our  foremost  ranks,  and  He  has  greatly 
impressed  us  all  with  the  very  manifest  power  of  the 
Spirit  in  its  gracious  operations  on  the  hearts  of  the 
people.” 

The  opinion  thus  decidedly  expressed  by  one, 
whose  length  of  service  and  of  experience  is  beyond 
that  of  any  other  Congo  missionary,  and  whose  leader- 
ship, on  the  ground  of  his  acknowledged  abilities  and 
particularly  his  wise  judgment,  is  gladly  recognised 
by  those  of  other  societies  as  well  as  those  of  his  own, 
deserves  most  careful  consideration. 

Much  by  God’s  help  has  been  accomplished  in  the 
past ; by  the  same  help  more  may  be  accomplished  in 
days  to  come. 

We  conclude  this  chapter  with  a table  showing 
the  present  stations  and  the  missionaries  located  at 
them. 


Stations. 

San  Salvador, 

Underhill, 

Wathen, 


LOWER  CONGO. 

Missionaries. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graham, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Forfeitt,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Pinnock,  Mr.  Pople,  and  Mr.  Stephens. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bentley,  Mr.  P.  Davies,  B.A., 
and  Mr.  Cameron. 


146 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Stations. 

Arthington, 
Bolobo,  . 

Lokokla, 

Munsejiibi, 

Bopoto, . 


Mojembo  {to  be  occupied  shortly) 
s.s.  “ Peace  ” and  “ Goodwill,” 


UPPER  CONGO. 

Missionaries. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roger,  and  Mr.  Gordon. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grenfell,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Glennie,  and  Mr.  Fuller. 

Mr.  Clark,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scrivener. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Staple- 
ton,  and  Mr.  Stonelake. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  L.  Forfeitt,  Mr.  Brown, 
and  Mr.  Kirkland. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  and 
another. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison 
and  Mr.  Field. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO, 

C\ONTEMPLATING  the  vast  myriads  upon 
whose  ears  the  sound  of  the  glorious  Gospel 
j of  the  Blessed  God  has  not  yet  fallen,  it  is 
indeed  a satisfaction  and  a relief  to  know  that 
there  are  other  missions  in  Congo  than  the  one  whose 
work  has  been  recorded  in  the  foregoing  pages.  It 
is  also  most  pleasant  to  be  assured — though  the  fact 
is  only  what  might  have  been  expected — that  the 
relations  between  the  agents  of  these  various  socie- 
ties are  of  the  most  cordial  and  brotherly  nature. 
Indeed,  in  the  case  of  the  two  Missions,  the  Living- 
stone Inland  and  the  Congo,  the  policy  pursued  is 
avowedly  intended  to  be  mutually  beneficial,  their 
stations  being  so  planted  as  to  permit  of  the  heartiest 
co-operation. 

When,  now  more  than  ten  years  ago,  the  Hon. 
J.  W.  Merrill  of  Boston,  the  then  President  of 
the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  with  which 
Union  the  Livingstone  Mission  was  then  about  to 
become  identified,  was  visiting  London,  he  was 
warmly  welcomed  to  the  Committee  of  the  English 
Society  by  the  late  Treasurer,  Mr.  Joseph  Tritton, 

147 


148  THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 

who  expressed  the  earnest  hope  that  by  mutual 
confidence  and  wise  arrangements  the  great  object  of 
both  Societies  might  be  the  more  efficiently  secured  ; 
a sentiment  most  emphatically  endorsed  by  Mr. 
Merrill.  And  so  also  on  subsequent  occasions  of  a 
similar  nature  these  feelings  of  fellowship  have  been 
freely  expressed  and  confirmed. 

And  abroad  the  opportunities  for  showing  kindly 
hospitality  are  continually  occurring.  In  the  matter 
too  of  forwarding  stores,  most  invaluable  help  is 
rendered  by  each  Mission  respectively.  The  import- 
ance, moreover,  of  a common  understanding  as  to 
methods  of  working  so  as  to  secure  greater  efficiency 
is  increasingly  recognised  and  desired.  And  as  to  the 
sympathy  shown  in  times  of  sorrow,  the  ungrudging 
and  unwearied  attention  given  in  seasons  of  sickness 
— all  such  brotherly  ministries  have  been  as  readily 
rendered  as,  alas ! the  occasion  for  them  has  been 
frequent.  Particular  mention  may  be  made  here  of 
the  important  services  so  often  given  by  Dr.  Sims,  the 
qualified  Medical  Missionary  now  stationed  at  Leopold- 
ville, and  whose  missionary  life  has  extended  over 
some  fourteen  or  fifteen  years. 

Tfie  Livingstone  Inland  Mission. 

of  which  we  first  write,  was  originated  by  certain 
individuals  who  were  deeply  interested  in  the 
evangelisation  of  Western  Central  Africa.  For  more 
than  two  years  it  was  under  the  direction  of  a 
Committee,  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  Grattan  Guinness 
were  members.  Rev.  A.  Tilley  acting  as  Secretary,  and 
Mr.  John  Cory  as  Treasurer.  The  pioneer  Mission- 
aries, Mr.  Strom  and  Mr.  Craven  arrived  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Congo  at  the  end  of  February,  1878,  some  few 
weeks  after  the  landing  of  Mr.  Grenfell  and  Mr. 
Comber,  Messrs.  Telfourd  and  Johnstone  joining  them 
about  the  end  of  June. 

The  first  station  was  founded  at  a place  about  five 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO. 


149 


miles  from  the  Yellala  Falls.  In  Mr.  Strom’s  journal, 
under  date  the  9th  of  June,  Whitsunday,  there  is  the 
following  entry : “ We  held  to-day  our  first  public 
service.  I gave  each  of  our  workmen  a body-cloth  ; 
then  at  8 A.M.  called  them  together,  explained  as 
well  as  we  could  that  we  should  worship  God.  Then 
I gave  out  a hymn,  read  Acts  ii.,  had  another  hymn, 
and  prayed,  then  Mr.  Craven  and  I partook  of  the 
Lord’s  Supper.  The  Spirit  of  the  Most  High  was  in 
us,  on  us,  and  with  us.  May  this  be  the  little  stone 
cut  out  without  hands  which  shall  roll  on  until  it 
becomes  a great  mountain.” 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  1878,  Mr.  Peterson 
and  Miss  Bosson,  to  be  married  to  Mr.  Craven,  started 
for  Africa.  Soon  after  this  contingent  had  embarked, 
the  sad  news  arrived  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Telfourd,  the 
first  of  the  missionaries  to  lay  down  his  life  for  Christ 
in  Congo. 

It  is  interesting  to  record  that  in  the  s.s.  Volta,  by 
which  vessel  Mr.  Comber  returned  with  his  reinforce- 
ments, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vickers  and  Mr.  Richards, 
additions  to  the  Livingstone  staff,  were  amongst  the 
passengers.  As  time  passed  on  others  were  sent  out ; 
of  these  may  be  mentioned  an  important  contingent 
consisting  of  Messrs.  M'Call,  Clarke,  Harvey,  Lanceley, 
and  Mrs.  Richards,  sailing  in  March,  1880.  The 
Mission  had  now  become  identified  with  the  Harley 
House  Institute,  being  indeed  a branch  of  it,  the 
original  Committee  acting  as  the  Council. 

On  hearing  of  a further  loss  occurring  about  this 
time,  Mrs.  Guinness  wrote : — “ We  must  not  sorrow 
because  a costly  gift  gladly  and  willingly  offered  to 
the  blessed  Lord  Jesus  has  been  accepted  by  Him. 
We  must  not  sorrow  that  a wearied  servant  has  been 
welcomed  Home  with  exceeding  joy  and  greeted  with 
a cordial  ‘well  done.’  Nor  must  the  friends  of  the 
Mission  be  discouraged  because  it  is  experiencing 
trials  which  were  expected.  We  knew  that  to  evan- 
gelise Central  Africa  would  prove  a costly  project, 

L 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


150 

demanding  large  sacrifices  both  of  life  and  means. 
But  knowing  this,  we  felt,  did  we  not?  that  we  had 
no  choice  in  the  matter.  Our  path  was  to  obey,  and 
the  command  to  go  into  all  the  world  was  plain  !” 

Notwithstanding  these  difficulties  and  trials  the 
work  on  the  field  was  making  good  progress,  three 
stations  having  been  planted — viz.,  Matadi,  Palabala, 
and  Banza  Manteke.  With  the  next  expedition  the 
little  Livingstone  steamer  launch  was  despatched. 
And  in  July,  1881,  the  Directors  at  home  expressed 
their  hopeful  feelings  in  the  following  terms  : “ There 
is  much  that  is  encouraging.  The  Mission  is  gradu- 
ally taking  root  and  securing  the  respect  and  confid- 
ence of  the  natives  themselves.  Our  brethren  have 
so  far  acquired  the  language  as  to  be  able  to  com- 
municate pretty  freely  with  the  people,  and  to  instruct 
them  and  their  children.” 

We  have  thus  dwelt  somewhat  in  detail  upon  the 
first  stages  of  this  important  Mission,  but  limited  space 
forbids  our  following  its  progress  step  by  step.  Pass- 
ing over  the  next  two  or  three  years,  we  come  to 
an  event  of  great  moment — viz.,  the  transference  of 
the  Mission  to  the  American  Baptist  Missionary 
Union.  Though  for  some  months  negotiations  with  a 
view  to  this  transference  had  been  proceeding,  it  was 
not  until  November,  1884,  that  the  American  Society 
took  over  the  Mission  formally  into  their  manage- 
ment. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guinness  were  in  Boston  on  the 
occasion.  It  was  felt  to  be  a red  letter  day  in  the 
history  of  the  Missionary  Union.  The  story  of  the 
opening  of  Central  Africa  as  told  by  these  English 
visitors,  and  “of  the  heroic  struggle  of  their  dear 
pioneer  missionaries  to  introduce  the  Gospel  in  that 
great  new  world  seemed,”  they  said,  “ to  create  deep 
interest  wherever  they  went,  and  to  elicit  warm  sym- 
pathy and  Christian  zeal.” 

At  the  date  when  the  Livingstone  Inland  Mission 
was  thus  handed  over  to  the  American  Baptists  it 
consisted  of  six  well-established  stations,  twenty-five 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO.  15 1 

missionaries  (men  and  women),  with  a steamer  just 
being  launched  at  Stanley  Pool,  the  Henry  Reed, 
generously  provided  by  Mrs.  Henry  Reed,  of  Tasmania^ 
but  which  was  unfortunately  completely  wrecked  a 
short  time  ago ; the  only  condition  imposed  being 


that  the  work  should  be  vigorously  maintained,  Harley 
House  continuing' to  act  as  a British  Auxiliary. 

On  the  very  same  month  as  this  transference  was 
effected  Mr.  Craven  was  removed  by  death,  the  loss 
of  whose  services,  as  one  of  the  founders  and  a 


152 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


devoted  leader  of  the  Mission,  was  deeply  felt.  But 
whilst  these  repeated  losses  tried  the  faith  of  the 
workers  abroad,  and  saddened  the  spirits  of  friends 
and  supporters  at  home,  experience  of  another  kind, 
such  as  well  might  thrill  all  hearts  with  thankful  joy, 
was  in  store.  Hitherto,  the  spiritual  results  had  been 
few,  the  past  had  been  a time  of  sowing ; but  a 
Pentecostal  blessing  was  about  to  be  outpoured. 
The  station  to  realise  this  wonderful  manifestation  of 
Divine  grace  and  power  was  Banza  Manteke.  Mr. 
Henry  Richard,  the  missionary  in  charge,  writing 
under  date  of  the  6th  of  August,  said  : “ The  bones 
that  had  been  shaking  for  some  time  past  began  to 
stand  up  and  show  very  evident  signs  of  life.  Truly 
the  Pentecostal  power  came  as  I have  never  seen 
before ; for  the  people  began  to  bring  out  their 
fetishes  for  us  to  burn,  and  to  cry,  ‘ What  must  we  do 
to  be  saved  ? ’ There  was  much  opposition  and 
persecution,  which  only  seemed  to  increase  the  spirit- 
ual power  ; for  the  bitterest  enemies  and  the  greatest 
sinners  were  brought  under  conviction  of  sin.  The 
interest  increased,  and  the  people  came  up  in  large 
numbers  to  the  station.  The  house  became  too  strait, 
and  we  were  obliged  to  hold  the  services  in  the  open 
air,  and  have  continued  to  do  so  up  to  the  present 
time,  and  we  have  more  than  700  converts.  The 
glorious  fact  is  this,  that  Banza  Manteke  is  no  longer 
a heathen  country,  but  more  Christian  than  any  I am 
acquainted  with.” 

It  must,  however,  be  said  that  in  many  of  these 
cases  time  proved  the  conv'ersions  to  be  nominal 
rather  than  real,  discipline  having  to  be  freely  exer- 
cised. Yet,  taking  this  fact  into  consideration,  there 
can  be  no  question  but  that  a great  work  of  God  was 
effected.  So  much  so  that  when  Mr.  Grenfell  was  in 
this  country  in  1891  he  was  able  to  refer  to  it  with 
great  confidence.  Touching  upon  the  encouragement 
afforded  by  past  experience  for  pushing  forward  with 
the  work,  and  then  ascribing  the  results  produced  to 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO. 


153 


the  gracious  operations  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  he  said,  “ What  else  was  it  that 
produced  that  wonderful  result  to  the  labour  of  our 
brother,  Richards,  of  the  A.B.M.U.  ? He  went  to  the 
Congo  almost  at  the  very  outset  of  the  missionary 
enterprise  there,  and  laboured  for  seven  long  years  in 
one  place  without  a single  sign  to  encourage  him  ; 
and  the  people  were  so  bound  up  in  their  cruel 
customs  and  superstitions,  and  their  hearts  seemed  so 
hard,  that  he  was  on  the  point  of  giving  up  and  going 
elsewhere  ; but  at  this  very  time,  when  he  was  talking 
to  me  of  his  disappointment  and  sorrow,  the  ‘ leaven  ’ 
was  at  work  in  the  heart  of  the  man  who  had  been 
his  strongest  opponent,  and  shortly  after  he  renounced 
his  fetishism,  and  became  the  first  of  a distinguished 
band  of  earnest  Christians.  The  work,  having  com- 
menced, grew  apace ; and  very  largely,  humanly 
speaking,  as  the  results  of  the  labours  of  the  native 
Christians  themselves,  there  is  to-day  round  our 
brother  at  Banza  Manteke  a Church  of  some  three 
hundred  members.” 

And  Banza  Manteke  is  not  the  only  station  where 
large  results  have  been  ingathered,  the  labours  at 
Lukunga  being  as  encouraging.  At  other  stations, 
Matadi  for  example,  the  work  is  largely  of  a business 
nature,  as  at  Underhill,  of  the  Congo  Mission.  And 
some  stations,  which,  when  planted,  were  full  of 
promise,  have  become  much  restricted  in  the  scope 
they  afford,  owing  to  the  removal  of  the  population 
to  other  towns. 

As  to  general  operations,  it  may  be  said,  school- 
teaching, evangelistic  efforts,  literary  and  medical 
work — all  these  various  labours  have  been  and  are 
still  being  zealously  pursued. 

Whilst  the  Livingstone  Inland  Mission  has  suffered 
perhaps  more  severely  than  the  sister  Mission — whose 
course  has  been  followed  in  the  preceding  pages — 
through  loss  by  death  and  enforced  return  of  mission- 
aries, there  have  never  been  wanting  devoted  volun- 


154 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


teers  ready  to  take  vacant  places,  so  that  the  work 
has  not  only  been  maintained  but  extended.  The 
report  for  July,  1894,  in  its  statistical  tables,  shows 
ten  stations,  being  enumerated  in  their  order  of  founda- 
tion : — Palabala,  Banza  Manteke,  Matadi,  Lukunka, 
Mukimvika,  Leopoldville,  Bolengi,  Bwemba,  Kinjila, 
and  Irebu  ; forty-six  missionaries,  including  wives  of 
missionaries  and  single  women,  with  a church-mem- 
bership of  twelve  hundred  and  seventeen — the  last 
figures,  however,  it  is  believed,  through  the  great 
mortality  occasioned  by  the  fatal  sleeping  sickness, 
and  other  circumstances,  having  undergone  consider- 
able revision. 

Balolo  Mission. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guinness  transferred  the  Living- 
stone Inland  Mission  to  the  American  Union,  there 
was  no  intention  to  cease  missionary  effort  on  behalf 
of  Central  Africa.  An  opportunity,  therefore,  arising 
in  the  Providence  of  God  to  enter  Balolo-land,  it  was 
prayerfully  and  eagerly  embraced.  The  circum- 
stances in  which  the  new  enterprise  was  begun  can 
be  simply  described.  In  1888,  Mr.  M'Kittrick,  who 
had  been  located  at  the  then  Equator  station  of  the 
Livingstone  Mission,  visited  England.  The  sphere 
of  his  labours  had  been  within  a few  miles  of  the 
Balolo  country.  Mr.  M'Kittrick,  who  brought  with 
him  a native  lad,  gave  glowing  accounts  of  the 
people,  representing  them  to  be  more  advanced  in 
civilisation,  more  intelligent,  and  more  friendly  than 
most  of  the  tribes  nearer  the  coast,  but  a people, 
estimated  at  some  ten  millions,  altogether  unevange- 
lised, that  it  was  felt  the  moment  had  arrived  when  a 
special  mission  to  the  Balolo  should  be  attempted ; and 
Dr.  Harry  Guinness  undertook  the  secretarial  duties. 
To  prevent  misunderstanding  with  the  American 
Society,  a conference  was  sought  with  Dr.  Murdoch, 
its  secretary,  and  as  the  result,  it  was  cordially  decided 
that  the  Harley  House  Auxiliary  should  henceforth 


156 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


concentrate  its  energies  upon  the  effort  to  send  the 
Gospel  to  Balolo-land. 

The  first  party  set  sail  in  April,  1889,  consisting  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  M'Kittrick,  Miss  De  Hailes,  Messrs. 
Todd,  Blake,  Whytock,  Howell,  Haupt,  and  the  Balolo 
lad,  Bompole  ; and  after  calling  at  the  various  stations 
cn  route,  arrived  safely  at  their  destination,  the  mouth 
of  the  Lulongo,  one  of  the  great  tributaries  of  the 
Congo,  some  750  miles  from  the  coast,  or  about  400 
miles  beyond  Stanley  Pool,  in  the  month  of 'August, 
being  conveyed  along  the  reaches  of  the  upper  river 
in  the  Hemy  Reed,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Billington. 

Steering  some  thirty-five  miles  up  the  Lulongo,  the 
party  cast  anchor  and  ventured  to  land,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  some  hundreds  of  men,  armed  with 
spears,  had  been  attracted  by  the  sight  of  the  vessel. 
Their  welcome,  however,  was  not  unfriendly  when  the 
object  of  their  visit  was  known.  After  some  pala- 
vering, a piece  of  ground  for  a station,  now  called 
Bonzinda,  was  secured,  and  as  soon  as  possible  the 
required  houses  were  erected. 

Very  interesting  is  Mrs.  M'Kittrick’s  account  of  a 
preaching  service  in  a palaver  house  on  the  second 
Sunday  after  their  arrival  : — 

“In  the  cool  of  the  evening,  John  (Mr.  M'Kittrick), 
Mr.  Whytock,  and  myself  went  out  in  a canoe  to  visit 
some  of  the  neighbouring  towns.  We  first  crossed 
over  to  the  island  which  lies  a few  hundred  yards 
from  us.  A great  crowd  gathered  on  the  beach  to 
receive  us,  and  we  marched  through  the  town  at  the 
head  of  nearly  a thousand  people.  They  were  not  at 
all  shy,  and  the  children,  particularly  the  boys,  were 
very  bold,  shouting  and  laughing  all  round  us.  The 
houses  were  poorly  built,  and  close  together.  There 
were  some  exceptions,  however,  to  the  bad  buildings. 
The  public  palaver-houses,  consisting  of  large  roofs, 
lofty  in  the  centre  and  sloping  gradually  downwards 
until  within  two  feet  of  the  ground,  were  the  finest 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO. 


157 


erections  we  have  seen  in  Africa.  We  entered  one 
capable  of  holding  500  people.  The  inside  was  dark 
and  very  smoky,  ten  or  twelve  fires  being  kindled  in 
different  parts  of  the  room,  and  it  was  with  some 
difficulty  we  were  able  to  make  out  where  we  were. 
When  our  eyes. had  become  accustomed  to  the  gloom 
and  the  smoke,  we  saw  a large  high  chamber,  decently  • 
clean,  except  where  culinary  operations  were  being 
carried  on.  Some  charms,  fetishes,  etc.,  were  hanging 
from  the  roof,  and  running  round  each  side  were  large 
pieces  of  canoe  boards,  with  backs  to  them,  making 
capital  seats.  These  filled  rapidly  on  our  entrance, 
and  in  a few  moments  the  place  was  full,  men,  women, 
and  children  crowding  eagerly  in  to  look  at  the  white 
man  and  hear  his  words.  Truly  an  open  door  is  before 
us!  John  stood  up  in  the  middle  and  told  them  the 
reason  of  our  coming  amongst  them,  and  the  message 
of  God’s  love  in  Jesus  Christ  His  Son.  I mean- 
while sat  and  looked  at  the  bright  faces,  with  their 
black,  shining  eyes,  and  gleaming,  white  teeth,  and 
I must  confess  my  first  feeling  was  one  of  something 
very  much  like  despair  as  I thought.  What  are  we,  a 
handful  of  feeble,  unarmed  men,  amongst  these 
thousands  of  heathen  savages,  and  what  hope  is  there 
of  their  ever  being  converted  and  civilised  ? It  seems, 
humanly  speaking,  so  improbable,  so  impossible. 
Nothing  but  a miracle  can  ever  change  them,  and 
yet,  this  we  have  a right  to  expect  from  our  wonder- 
working God,  in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  all 
men. 

“We  walked  away  to  the  end  of  the  island,  and 
whilst  waiting  there  for  the  boat,  John  had  another 
opportunity  of  delivering  his  message.  We  then 
paddled  across  to  another  large  town  on  the  main- 
land, and  there  found  the  same  thing,  hundreds  of 
curious,  expectant  people.  After  speaking  in  the 
palaver  house,  we  were  walking  back  to  the  canoe, 
when  a man  ran  up,  saying:  ‘Give  us  a little  bit  of 
Inzakomba  ’ (God).  We  willingly  consented,  and 


158 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


standing  still  sang  the  first  verse  of  ‘Jesus  loves  me’ 
in  Lunkundu.  The  words  were  very  simple,  and  as 
we  made  the  people  repeat  them  several  times,  they 
soon  picked  them  up,  and  tried  to  join  in  as  we  sang 
the  verse  over  and  over  again.  It  was  quite  encourag- 
ing after  one’s  dismal  thoughts  to  perceive  the 
readiness  with  which  they  listened  to  what  was  said 
to  them,  and  their  appreciation  of  it. 

“We  have  certainly  been  guided  as  to  settling  in 
this  place,  by  far  the  most  populous  district  we  have 
seen,  and  utterly  untouched  by  the  Gospel.  To-day, 
for  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  many  of  them  have 
heard  the  good  news.  The  words  which  seemed  to 
make  the  most  impression  on  them  were'Jisu  a to 
Somb  iso  ukingo’ — ‘Jesus  bought  for  us  a neck.’ 
This  idiom  conveys  to  them  the  idea  of  substitution, 
and  each  time  John  repeated  them  a low  murmur  of 
surprise  or  approval,  I could  not  tell  which,  passed 
through  the  crowd.  The  numbers  are  overwhelming, 
but  in  time  we  shall  reach  them,  by  the  help  of  God.” 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  1889,  a second 
station  at  Ikau,  a point  on  the  Lunongo  at  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Lopori  and  Maringa  rivers,  was  planted, 
Mr.  Whytock  and  Mr.  Haupt  being  the  missionaries 
left  in  charge.  The  next  station  was  opened  at 
Lulalga  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lunongo,  where  it  flows 
into  the  Congo ; and  soon  after  a fourth  at  Bondon- 
danga  on  Lopori,  250  miles  from  the  spot  where  the 
Lulongo  enters  the  Congo,  the  reinforcements  which 
had  followed  the  first  contingent  permitting  of  this 
extension.  It  should  also  be  stated  here  that  by  this 
time  the  little  steamer  Pioneer,  the  need  of  which 
was  so  deeply  felt,  had  safely  arrived. 

As  in  the  initial  stages  of  the  Congo  Mission,  so  in 
those  of  the  Balolo  Mission,  much  of  the  time  of  the 
missionaries  had  necessarily  to  be  occupied  with  all 
kinds  of  operations  involving  hard  manual  labour,  or 
persevering  attempts  to  acquire  the  language  or 
tedious  palavers  with  chiefs. 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO. 


159 


The  following  description  given  by  Miss  De  Hailes 
of  the  way  in  which  she  spent  her  life  at  Bonzinda  is 
instructive  and  interesting. 

“This  is  the  way  my  day  is  generally  employed. 
I rise  at  six,  so  as  to  get  a quiet  hour  for  Bible- 
reading  and  prayer  before  breakfast,  at  half-past 
seven.  After  that  we  have  prayers,  and  I attend  to 
household  duties  before  service,  which  is  from  half- 
past eight  till  nine.  Then  I have  Bompole  for  an 
hour’s  study.  After  that  I can  never  be  sure  of  my 
time  ; patients  come  in,  and  I am  often  unable  to  get 
a quiet  moment  till  dinner,  at  twelve  o’clock.  After 
dinner  I rest  for  an  hour ; and  if  no  one  comes  for 
medicine,  I get  a little  study  or  reading.  At  two 
o’clock,  I have  a sewing  class  for  native  girls ; and 
then,  after  a cup  of  tea,  I walk  to  the  town,  to  teach 
my  school,  and  often  go  to  visit  some  of  the  people 
on  the  way  back,  as  I have  time  and  opportunity. 
They  run  after  me  and  ask  me  to  go  into  their  houses 
and  tell  them  of  God,  and  I never  like  to  refuse, 
though  want  of  time  sometimes  compels  me  to  do  so. 
It  is  not  wise  to  stay  out  after  sundown,  at  least  not 
far  away  from  home.  In  the  evening,  after  supper, 
I have  a night-school,  then  attend  our  evening 
worship,  and  afterwards  get  my  writing  done. 

“ Our  new  houses  have  boarded  floors,  and  the 
rooms  are  beautifully  cool  and  convenient.  I like  our 
houses  better  than  any  on  the  Congo,  though  others 
are  more  beautiful ; but  I prefer  ours,  made  of  native 
material  and  therefore  less  expensive.  I wish  I could 
get  on  faster  with  the  language,  for  I find  it  very 
trying  to  the  patience.  On  Sundays,  after  service  in 
the  chapel  in  the  morning,  we  visit  the  towns,  each 
taking  a different  direction.  The  darkness  and  sin  in 
which  these  poor  natives  live  is  awful.” 

In  January,  1891,  it  was  decided  that  Dr.  Harry 
Guinness  should  pay  a visit  to  Congo,  and  in  March 
of  that  year  he  started  upon  his  journey,  his  visit 
occupying  twelve  months. 


i6o 


THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 


Arriving  at  St.  Thomas  on  his  way  home,  it  was 
his  painful  duty  to  despatch  the  following  telegram, 
conveying  the  terrible  news  of  the  death  of  two  of  the 
lialolo  band,  “John  M‘Kittrick  died,  November  22nd; 
Luff  died,  December  19th.”  This  was,  indeed,  heart- 


rending news.  But  the  very  next  mail  that  arrived 
brought  intelligence  of  the  ingathering  of  the  first 
fruits.  And  so  with  blended  sorrow  and  joy  the  sup- 
porters of  the  Mission  gave  themselves  anew  to  prayer. 

As  soon  as  possible  a “ welcome  home  ” meeting 
to  receive  Dr.  Guinness  and  Mrs.  M'Kittrick  was 


JOHN  M‘KITTRICK. 

(Leader  of  the  Congo  Balolo  Mission,) 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO.  l6l 

arranged,  which  was  also  a “ God  speed  ” meeting  to 
bid  farewell  to  five  Balolo  missionaries,  four  of  them 
being  reinforcements. 

Notwithstanding  great  difficulties  and  many  trials 
through  sickness  and  death,  the  Mission  has  continued 
to  prosper  ; and  so  recently  as  March  of  the  present 
year,  the  Directors  were  able  to  report  fresh  indica- 
tions of  the  Divine  blessing. 

The  Swedish  Missionary  Alliance 

sent  its  first  missionary  to  the  Congo  in  i88i,  at 
which  date  it  was  in  connection  with  the  Livingstone 
Inland  Mission,  two  other  representatives  going  forth 
the  following  year.  On  the  transference  of  the  Living- 
stone Mission  to  the  American  Baptist  Missionary 
Union  the  Alliance  became  independent,  establishing 
itself  at  Mukimbungu,  where  already  its  agents  had 
been  labouring.  Three  other  stations  have  since  been 
founded — viz.,  those  at  Kibunzi,  Diadia,  and  Nganda, 
besides  a transport  station  at  Londe,  all  three  places 
being  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mukimbungu,  on  the 
Lower  Congo.  Since  the  commencement  of  this 
Mission,  forty  missionaries,  male  and  female,  have 
been  sent  out,  twelve  of  whom  have  succumbed  to 
fever;  the  missionary.  Nils  Westlind,  who  had  laboured 
for  the  longest  period  (since  1882)  having  died  as 
recently  qs  March  of  the  present  year.  Mr.  Westlind 
was  enabled  to  complete  a free  translation  of  the 
entire  New  Testament  into  the  language  spoken  in 
the  district,  which  was  printed  at  the  Kibunzi  Mission 
Press.  Other  literary  work  has  also  been  accom- 
plished. The  present  membership  is  about  150,  and 
several  of  the  converts  are  labouring  as  evangelists. 
There  is  much  cause  for  thankfulness  on  account  of 
the  good  work  done  by  this  Society. 

Bishop  Taylor’s  Mission. 

The  leader  of  this  Mission  is  a Bishop  of  the 


1 62  THE  CONGO  FOR  CHRIST. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States. 
In  the  year  1886,  with  the  object  of  founding  stations 
on  the  Kasai,  an  important  affluent  of  the  Congo,  he 
set  sail  from  America  with  a large  missionary  band 
of  no  less  than  twenty-four  in  number.  Though  the 
bishop  is  a man  of  singular  devotion,  the  principle  of 
self-support  upon  which  he  founded,  and  has  since 
conducted  his  Mission,  judged  by  results,  has  proved 
anything  but  encouraging.  Whatever  may  be  the 
suitability  of  such  a principle  to  other  mission  fields, 
its  application  to  the  Congo  has  proved  most  dis- 
astrous. The  bishop  has  found  no  lack  of  men  and 
women  ready  to  labour  for  Christ  in  Africa,  and  he 
has  spent  large  sums  of  money  in  the  preliminary 
steps  of  establishing  stations. 

The  great  loss  of  life  and  treasure,  issuing  in  little 
or  no  spiritual  results,  has  been  cause  for  sincere 
lamentation  and  regret.  Many  missionaries,  owing 
to  want  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  have  died,  or 
have  been  compelled  to  return  to  America,  whilst 
those  who  have  attempted  to  support  themselves  by 
agricultural  and  other  pursuits  have  found,  for  the 
most  part,  the  conditions  of  the  Congo  anything  but 
favourable. 

A traction  engine  and  a vessel  sent  out,  have 
proved,  from  lack  of  adaptation,  absolutely  useless,  so 
far  as  the  Mission  has  been  concerned. 

Stations  at  Vivi,  Isangila,  and  Kimpoko  have  been 
attempted,  but  the  most  satisfactory  work  is  that 
done,  on  a small  scale,  at  Banana. 

Whether  the  experience  of  Bishop  Taylor’s  Mission 
may  be  regarded  as  conclusive  we  do  not  decide,  but 
so  far  as  the  experiment  has  gone,  it  is  certainly  most 
unfavourable  to  the  policy  of  self-support. 

The  other  missions  at  work  in  Congoland  are  the 
American  Presbyterian  Mission  on  the  Kasai,  the 
Evangelical  Missionary  Presbyterian  Alliance,  some- 
times called  “Simpson’s  Mission,”  located  near  Matadi, 
and  several  Roman  Catholic  Missions  working  at 


OTHER  MISSIONS  IN  CONGO.  163 

various  points,  both  on  the  Lower  and  Upper 
Congo. 

It  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  this  volume 
to  record  the  operations  of  societies,  other  than  those 
whose  representatives  are  labouring  in  the  Congo 
country.  It  is  fitting,  however,  it  should  conclude 
with  the  devout  and  earnest  prayer,  that  whether  the 
messengers  of  the  Cross  enter  the  Dark  Continent 
from  the  North  or  the  South,  from  the  East  or  from 
the  West,  they  may,  one  and  all,  as  the  Divine 
blessing  rests  upon  their  several  labours,  be  instru- 
mental in  hastening  the  happy  day,  when,  from 
the  lands  bordering  on  the  Mediterranean  to  Cape 
Colony,  from  the  Zambesi  to  the  Congo,  the  people 
shall  everywhere  see  the  great  Light,  and  rejoice 
under  His  healing  beams. 


THE  END. 


INDEX. 


PACK 


PACE 


Arthington’s,  Mr.,  Communi- 
cations  

Arthington  Station, 

Balolo  Mission, 

Bishop  Taylor’s  Mission, 
Bolobo  Station, 

Bopoto  Station, 

Burial  of  Living  Persons, 
Centenary  Contributions, 
Contributions  to  China  Mis- 
sion, . . . . . 

Congo  Dictionary  and  Gram- 
mar, . . . . . 

Congo  New  Testament, . 
Deaths  of  Missionaries,  . 
Evangelistic  Efforts  by  Natives, 
First  Journey  to  Stanley  Pool, 
Folk  Lore,  . . . . 

Grenfell’s,  Mr.,  Delimitation 
Commission, 

Livingstone  Inland  Mission,  . 


Lo,  his  Conversion, 

43 

18 

Lukolela  Station,  . 

103 

96 

Mbanza  Mputu,  Chief  of. 

116 

•54 

Mantu,  Baptism  of. 

42 

161 

Medical  Work, 

72 

100 

Mobangi  River,  Discovery  of. 

82 

no 

Monsembi  Station, 

106 

74 

Nlemvo,  Baptism  of. 

47 

119 

Our  Heroes 

135 

Present  Missionaries, 

145 

121 

Printing  Press, 

93 

San  Salvador  Station,  . 

88 

67 

.School,  First,  Opened,  . 

55 

68 

Slavery, ..... 

77 

124 

Stanley  Pool  first  reached. 

34 

113 

Steamer  Goodwill, . 

122 

30 

Steamer  Peace, 

38 

53 

Swedish  Missionary  Alliance, 

161 

Underhill  Station,  . 

92 

79 

Wathen  Schoolhouse, 

58 

148 

Wathen  Station, 

93 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PACE 


A .Suspension  Bridge,  . . 32 

Bangala  Slave,  . . -77 

Bentley,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  Proof- 

Reading,  . . . .65 

Boma,  Congo  River,  . -15 

Bopoto,  View  from,  . .109 

Cathedral  Ruins,  . . • 19 

Chief  of  Mbanza  Mputu,  . 117 
Discharge  of  Peace  Sections,  . 39 

Etoto,  Native  Town  of,  . . 115 

Goodwill,  . . . .121 

Grenfell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  Travel- 
ling, . . . . 80,  81 

Groups  of  Deceased  Mission- 
aries, . . . 130,  131 

Henry  Reed  Steamer,  . .151 

Lukolela  Station,  . . . 105 

M'Kittrick,  John,  . . . i6o 


Missionary  Expedition,  . . 25 

Monsembi  Mission-House,  . 107 
Nshasha  Village,  . . -97 

Palaver  of  Bolobo  Chiefs,  . 75 

Peace  on  Slip,  . . . loi 

San  .Salvador  Chapel,  . . 45 

San  Salvador  Scholars,  . . 90 

Schoolboys’  Treat,  . . 57 

Silvey’s,  Mr.,  Three  Boys,  . 48 

Two  Lukolela  Boys,  . . 59 

View  from  Underhill,  Frontis- 
piece. 

Wathen  Station,  . . -95 

Yellala  Cataracts,  . . .29 

Map  of  Balolo  Country, . -155 

Map  of  Lower  Congo,  . .11 

Map  of  Stanley  Pool,  . . 35 

Map  of  Upper  Congo,  . -13 


LORIMER  AMD  CILLIES,  PRINTERS,  EDINBURCH. 


Date  Due 

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